(A) Purpose. The purpose of this section is to protect the physical and psychological well-being of minors, including LGBTQ minors, from the harm caused by conversion therapy.
(B) Definitions. For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
CONVERSION THERAPY. Any practice or treatment by a provider that seeks to change an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity, including efforts to change behaviors or gender expressions or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward individuals of the same gender. CONVERSION THERAPY does not include counseling that provides support and assistance to a person undergoing gender transition, or counseling that provides acceptance, support, and understanding of a person or facilitates a person's coping, social support, identity exploration, development, including sexual orientation and gender identity, and neutral interventions to prevent or address unlawful conduct or unsafe sexual practices, if such counseling is not conducted with the goal of changing the person's sexual orientation or gender identity.
GENDER EXPRESSION. A person's expression of gender identity through appearance and behavior, including how an individual believes that they are perceived by others.
GENDER IDENTITY. A person's sense of self as a woman, man, another gender, or genderless.
MINOR. Any person under 18 years of age.
PROVIDER. An individual who is licensed, certified, or registered under the laws of the State of Minnesota, including mental health practitioners and mental health professionals as defined in Minn. Stat. § 245.462, as it may be amended from time to time, to provide mental health services. PROVIDERS include mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists, social workers, physicians, psychologists, psychotherapists, chemical dependency professions, and their associates. A PROVIDER does not include members of the clergy who are acting in their roles as clergy or pastoral counselors and providing religious counseling to congregants.
SEXUAL ORIENTATION. A component of identity that includes a person's sexual and emotional attraction to another person and the behavior and/or social affiliation that may result from this attraction.
(C) Prohibited practices. It shall be unlawful for any provider to provide conversion therapy to a minor within the city limits.
(D) Enforcement. Violations of this section are punishable by administrative citations as defined in § 10.98.
(Ord. 20-020, passed 8-17-2020)