Cincinnati Becomes First City To Ban Conversion Therapy

On Wednesday, the Cincinnati City Council voted to ban gay conversion therapy. According to Cincinnati.com,

In the end, council voted 7-2 to pass the law, which prohibits therapy designed to change sexual orientation or gender identity for minors, and imposes a $200-a-day fine on violators. Cincinnati follows four states – California, Oregon, Illinois and New Jersey – and the District of Columbia banning the therapy, becoming the first city outside of D.C. to do so.

The vote comes on the heels of the death of transgender teen Leela Alcorn, who committed suicide last December. In her powerful suicide note, Alcorn mentioned her own conversion therapy. “This is about saving the lives of LGBT people,” said Councilman Chris Seelbach, who led the effort to ban conversion therapy.  “She challenged us to make her death matter, and we’re doing just that,” Seelbach said.