We’ll Take The Bill

HB 15-1175 aims to end the “pray the gay away” conversation therapy in our state.

By Marc Coulter

I clearly remember my first Gay Pride rally at Civic Center Park almost 25 years ago. It was a gorgeous summer morning as I helped my friend Greg set up his booth to sell shirts. People were milling about as the bright sun rose in the rich, blue sky Colorado is known for. I looked at the sun reflecting off of the gold leaf dome of the capitol and a sense of excitement began to build. I was proud that day — not only of being gay, but I had a sense of pride in the government that allowed this type of self-expression.

Flash forward to last week.

I’m the president-elect of the Colorado Counseling Association and I’m sitting in front of the Public Health Care and Human Services Committee in the basement of the capitol building providing testimony on behalf of House Bill 15-1175.

The bill was introduced by Representative Paul Rosenthal and it bans licensed and unlicensed mental health clinicians from engaging in what’s called “reparative” or “conversion” therapy for minors. This type of therapy is focused on changing a person’s sexual orientation and/or same-sex attraction (or their gender expression) with the goal of eliminating or reducing same-sex feelings of attraction. Clinicians engaging in this type of therapy would face disciplinary action by the state licensing board. Every major mental health organization has come out against this type of therapy.

In fact, the American Counseling Association and the American Psychological Association have gone on the record to say that this type of therapy is not safe and may in fact do harm to clients. There is no published scientific evidence that this therapy changes someone’s sexual orientation. Only two states, New Jersey and California, plus Washington D.C. currently outlaw it. Rep. Rosenthal is trying to add Colorado to that list.

I don’t know about you, but I know several people who’ve been offered a gay “cure” during their young adulthood. These services are mostly offered by religious organizations that attempt to “pray the gay away.” Has it worked? Not on anyone I know. In fact, it’s resulted in them feeling worse about themselves, sometimes to the point of suicide attempts. It often takes years to recover from the effects of this harmful “therapy.”

Make no mistake: It isn’t my intention to discredit religious organizations. Many amazing houses of worship offer wonderful ways to reconcile spiritual beliefs and sexual orientation. In fact, my husband is getting ready to graduate from ministerial school this summer from a program that not only accepts alternative expressions of sexual orientation — they celebrate it.

The bill presented by Rep. Rosenthal does not discourage clinical discussion about sexuality or sexual behavior; it simply states that clinicians cannot engage in efforts to change someone’s sexuality. The bill does not include psychotherapies that provide “acceptance, support, and understanding for the facilitation of an individual’s coping, social support, and identity exploration and development including sexual orientation.”

You have a voice
 and it needs to be heard!

The bill passed the committee vote; it now goes to the House floor, which is controlled by Democrats. Hopefully, it will pass and go on to the Senate. The Colorado Senate is Republican-controlled and this bill will have a harder time passing there.

I urge you to go to OpenStates.org and find out who your representatives and senators are. Email them, call them, write them. Urge them to vote for HB15-1175. Contact Rep. Rosenthal and thank him for his bravery in introducing this bill. The mental health and safety of our young LGBT community is vitally important.

Don’t allow this unethical practice to continue in Colorado! Be brave. Stand up. Let your voice be heard.