On Tuesday, in a 9-2 vote, the Anchorage Assembly passed an ordinance preventing licensed professionals such as therapists and school counselors from engaging in any effort to change a minor’s sexual orientation or gender identity. The ordinance, which supporters argued is necessary to protect youth from abuse and coercion, applies only to licensed professionals, not those acting in a religious capacity, parents, or anyone who is not licensed to provide therapy. 

While the practice of “conversion therapy” has drawn criticism from some medical professionals and counselors, a majority of the 65 people who testified in the two-day public hearing prior to the vote opposed the ordinance. Opponents argued that the ban interferes in the relationship between a child and their therapist, infringing on their rights of privacy and free speech. 

Crystal Kennedy, one of the two assembly members to vote against the ordinance, stated, “It is one-sided. It really only serves to protect those who want to promote and protect homosexuality. There’s always another side, and we’ve heard a lot of that from a lot of the testimony over the last several days.”
 
Anchorage is now one of 20 cities across the U.S. to have passed “conversion therapy” bans over the last decade. 

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