Fix society. Please.
That was the close of Leelah Alcorn’s suicide note; she was a Southwest Ohio teen who killed herself a year ago after undergoing conversion ‘therapy’. This past Wednesday the Cincinnati City Council took a step in that direction, voting 7-2 to pass a law prohibiting therapy designed to change sexual orientation or gender identity for minors and imposing a $200-a-day fine on violators. Cincinnati is the first city outside of Washington, D.C., to pass such a law, though four states – California, Oregon, Illinois, and New Jersey – have done so.
The USA Today Network (via the Cincinnati Enquirer) has more. As you might expect:
Twenty-one people spoke out against the ban during Council's comment period, decrying it as an assault on free speech and freedom of religion.
"I believe the city should stay out of this," said Dr. Dan Ferrell, a pastor. "It says something about you. Maybe other cities have better sense."
"This Council will create another another type of bondage for something people themselves have a right to seek liberty from," said Bishop Victor Cousins.
John Boggess, Board Chairman of Equality Ohio, was the only person to speak in favor of the law; he called it ‘a matter of public safety’. And most of the council evidently agreed.