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RESOLUTION R-1819-85: A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORMAN, OKLAHOMA, URGING THE OKLAHOMA STATE LEGISLATURE TO PASS HOUSE BILL 2456, CREATING THE YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH PROTECTON ACT PROHIBITING HEALTH CARE AND MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS FROM PROVIDING CONVERSION THERAPY TO PERSONS UNDER EIGHTEEN (18) YEARS OF AGE.
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BACKGROUND: Staff was asked to prepare a resolution urging the Oklahoma State Legislature to pass House Bill (HB) 2456, which creates the Youth Mental Health Protection Act, prohibiting health care and mental health professionals from providing conversion therapy to persons under eighteen (18) years of age.
At its January 28, 2019 meeting, the Human Rights Commission (HRC) discussed HB 2456 and voted unanimously to recommend that City Council adopt a resolution in support of the bill and urging the Oklahoma State Legislature to pass it this legislative session.
At its February 12, 2019, City Council Conference, Council discussed the draft resolution and directed Staff to place the resolution on its February 26, 2019, Consent Agenda.
DISCUSSION: Sage Mauldin, a Norman Human Rights Commissioner and also Adjunct Professor of Human Relations in the Department of Human Relations and an Affiliate Faculty Member of the Women's and Gender Studies Program at the University of Oklahoma, authored HB 2456, which is sponsored by Representative Jason Dunnington.
HB 2456 creates the Youth Mental Health Protection Act, which would be codified at 59 O.S. ?? 1925.19 - 1925.21. It defines "conversion therapy" as "any practice or treatment that seeks to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity, including, but not limited to, any effort to change behaviors or gender expressions or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward persons of the same sex."
The bill provides that "conversion therapy" does not include "counseling or mental health services that provide acceptance, support and understanding...
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