How ‘Conversion Therapy’ Bans Are Akin to Apostasy Laws

[Michie]

The Story: A proposed city ordinance in Indiana highlights why bans on “conversion therapy” can be a threat to the gospel.

The Background: The city council of West Lafayette, Indiana is considering an ordinance that would make it illegal for “unlicensed” counselors to counsel minors on human sexuality in a way that conflicts with LGBT+ orthodoxy. For example, if a teenager goes to a Christian counseling center about unwanted same-sex attraction or gender dysphoria, it would be breaking the law to give them answers based on biblical sexual ethics. The penalty for violating the ban on so-called “conversion therapy” is a fine of $1,000 per day.*

The proposed ordinance defines “conversion therapy” as any practices or treatments that seek to “change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity, including efforts to change gender expressions or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward individuals of the same gender.”

Continued below.
How ‘Conversion Therapy’ Bans Are Akin to Apostasy Laws

 

[seeking.IAM]

I am no fan of conversion therapy, but the ordinance seems to have an overly broad definition of what conversion therapy is and is not, in my opinion.

 

[bekkilyn]

I am no fan of conversion therapy, but the ordinance seems to have an overly broad definition of what conversion therapy is and is not, in my opinion.

This is a reason I'm having some very major issues with these "conversion therapy" laws that have started cropping up everywhere. They don't seem to be so much about conversion therapy than they do as a means of legally programming their ideology into children and youth and criminalizing anyone who attempts to mitigate what they've done.

 

[seeking.IAM]

I think an element that is missing in discussions about conversion therapy is that of coercive application, which is the real evil of conversion therapy, in my opinion. Asking your priest to have a voluntary conversation with your child about tenets of your church is far different than "deprogramming" attempts against someone's will. Both may be equally ineffective, but the latter is abusive in my opinion.