June 12, 2017
A city bill that would ban "conversion therapy" for children moved a step closer to approval this week.
A committee of Philadelphia City Council members unanimously approved Councilman Mark Squilla's legislation Monday, sending it to the full council for consideration, according to The Philadelphia Gay News.
The bill, approved by the Committee on Public Health and Human Services, would prohibit mental health providers from trying to change the sexual orientation or gender identity in clients under 18.
Committee members Cindy Bass, Bill Greenlee, Derek Green and Al Taubenberger voted in favor of the measure after hearing from three supporting witnesses, according to PGN.
The council meets 10 a.m. Thursday, June 15, but Squilla's bill was not on the agenda as of Monday night.
The controversial practice is illegal in California, Vermont, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, New Mexico, Connecticut, Oregon, Nevada and Washington, D.C., as well as in nearly two dozen cities.
If the full council approves the bill, Philadelphia would become the second city in Pennsylvania, after Pittsburgh, to ban the practice.
In January, Pennsylvania Rep. Brian Sims joined Philly Mayor Jim Kenney and Dr. Gail Edelsohn, president of the Pennsylvania Psychiatric Society, in Philadelphia to call for a statewide ban of conversion therapy. Sims and State Sen. Anthony Williams are lead sponsors of legislation under consideration in the House and Senate.
