Minnesota Democrats have authored HF 12 that they claim will ban “conversion therapy” which they argue will harm the LGBT community. However Christian organizations in Minnesota including Minnesota Family Council say that the bill is an attack on individual choice in health care as well as on the constitutional right of therapists, patients, and families.
Christian organizations fear that if this bill passes counselors will be prohibited from helping a client explore all options when addressing sexual orientation. Additionally, the law can have far-reaching consequence by prohibiting authors from selling books on gender identity and can even prevent a church from hosting a ticketed conference that addresses the issues of sexuality and identity.
“Young people and adults should have access to voluntary, compassionate, client-driven care in the field of sexual identity that is open to pursuing the goals of the patient, including living in accordance with biblical teaching on sexuality or becoming more comfortable with their biological sex,” says Moses Bratrud, Director of Communications at Minnesota Family Council. “The Committee will hear from men and women with moving stories of how counseling and therapy helped them meet their goals—helped them change. Why would the Committee vote make those people’s stories fraudulent under Minnesota law?”
Nate Oyloe, a pastoral counselor, says people like him would be directly affected by this bill. “Because of my religious faith, I decided to make different choices about my same-sex attractions and with the help of qualified mental health professionals and pastoral caregivers I was able to bring my sexuality into full harmony with my faith. I was not coerced or abused—I was honored and loved. I was given the power of choice and the dignity to think for myself.”
The bill will be heard on March 12th at 7 PM.
