The Duluth City Council passed ordinance 19-071 in December, 2019, making it illegal to provide conversion therapy to a minor in the City of Duluth. According to the City, the purpose of the ordinance is "to protect the physical and psychological well-being of minors from the harm caused by conversion therapy."

If you're not sure just what conversion therapy is, it's any attempt to change a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. However, despite the passing of the ordinance, the practice may still be occurring illegally in Duluth.

City official say that in order to avoid detection, some providers will refer to conversion therapy as:

  • Sexual Orientation Change Efforts (SOCE)
  • Sexual Attraction Fluidity Exploration in Therapy (SAFE-T)
  • Eliminating, reducing, or decreasing unwanted frequency or intensity of unwanted Same-Sex Attraction (SSA)
  • Reparative Therapy
  • Sexual Reorientation Efforts
  • Ex-gay ministry
  • Promoting healthy sexuality
  • Addressing sexual addictions and disorders
  • Sexuality counseling
  • Encouraging relational and sexual wholeness
  • Healing sexual brokenness
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The City of Duluth notes that proponents of conversion therapy often intentionally conflate the attempted altering of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression with the treatment of an actual condition such as sexual addiction.

They may also claim they are helping clients explore their “sexual fluidity,” or they emphasize that their clients struggle with “unwanted same-sex attractions” or “gender confusion.”

Regardless of how it is framed, it is illegal in Duluth the the City has created an online portal where people violating this ordinance can be easily report.

They encourage anyone who believes that conversion therapy is being practiced, or if you or someone else has been subjected to conversion therapy, to file a report with them right away.

Reports can be made anonymously and those submitting a report do not not need to have personally been a victim of conversion therapy in order to do so.

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