Hazel Park Ordinance Banning Conversion Therapy Passes First Reading
(City of Hazel Park, Feb. 9, 2022)
Hazel Park, MI – The Hazel Park City Council has introduced an ordinance to prohibit the practice of conversion therapy on minors. Conversion therapy, also known as reparative therapy, is defined as “any practice or treatment that seeks to change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity, including efforts to change behaviors or gender expressions or reduce attraction toward individuals of the same gender.”
The ordinance passed on first reading, and will advance to a second reading at the Council’s March 8th meeting. Once passed on second reading, it will take effect later that month.
The practice of conversion therapy has been widely condemned by the medical community, and has been documented by numerous studies as posing a significant risk of serious emotional and physical harm to youth who undergo conversion therapy or similar treatment practices.
“This ordinance prohibiting conversion therapy embodies our ongoing commitment to the LGBTQ community, while also protecting our children from dangerous and discredited practices that have no legitimate medical basis,” said Councilmember Luke Londo, who introduced the ordinance and identifies as bisexual. “I am proud to help Hazel Park become the sixth Michigan city with both a Human Rights Ordinance and conversion therapy ban, and encourage other communities to do the same in the continued absence of state legislative action.”
Once passed on second reading, Hazel Park will join Ann Arbor, East Lansing, Ferndale, Huntington Woods and Royal Oak with a conversion therapy prohibition as well as a Human Rights Ordinance that prohibits discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.
Hazel Park’s Human Rights Ordinance was passed at its April 13, 2021 meeting. It was also sponsored by Londo and co-sponsored by Councilmember Alissa Sullivan.
In June 2021, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Directive 2021-3, requiring the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to “take actions necessary to prohibit the use of state and federal funds for the harmful practice of conversion therapy on minors.”
“Since day one, I have made it clear that hate has no home in Michigan,” Governor Whitmer stated in the press release announcing the directive. “My administration is committed to addressing the systemic barriers faced by young LGBTQ+ Michiganders so that our state is a place where they are able to reach their full potential. The actions we take today will serve as a starting point in protecting our LGBTQ+ youth from the damaging practice of conversion therapy and in ensuring that Michigan is a reflection of true inclusion.”
The Governor also called on the legislature to codify a ban on conversion therapy, supplementing previous calls for the legislature to amend the state’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to include anti-discrimination protections for the LGBTQ community on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.
Bills to amend the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act as well as prohibit conversion therapy have been introduced in both chambers, but none have been brought to the full floor for a vote.
In addition to the conversion therapy prohibition and Human Rights Ordinance, Hazel Park has a well-documented commitment to advancing rights for the LGBTQ community. Two Hazel Park residents filed suit in 2012 challenging Michigan’s ban on adoption by same-sex couples. They subsequently amended their complaint, additionally challenging Michigan’s constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. Hazel Park residents voted against that ban in 2004, thought the effort ultimately passed.
The suit, DeBoer v. Snyder, was eventually consolidated with three others as Obergefell v. Hodges, which culminated in a decision by the United States Supreme Court requiring all states to grant same-sex marriages, and to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states.
The Hazel Park City Council has issued proclamations recognizing June as LGBTQ Pride Month, as well as raised an LGBTQ Pride Flag outside City Hall since 2018. Hazel Park held its first “Pride in the Park” event in 2019 and hosted one in 2021 after cancelling 2020 event due to COVID-19.
“Hazel Park is known as the ‘Friendly City’ because we are welcoming to all, and have a long history of inclusion toward the LGBTQ community,” said City Manager Ed Klobucher. “It is important to protect everyone’s civil rights and not pathologize gender and sexual orientation.”
For more local news, check out the Oakland County Times Hazel Park News Page.
