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Ferndale City Council Bans Conversion Therapy

Jason A. Michael

The Ferndale City Council voted unanimously Monday night to ban conversion therapy. The legislation was proposed by Councilwoman Julia Music, the director of Ferndale Pride, who was voted last month to a three-month term to fill a vacancy on the council.
"It's essential for LGBTQAI people to have access to proper mental health care, and for those who are impacted by conversion therapy to access care that can start to undo the harm conversion tactics inflict," Music said in a statement. "Council bringing up a ban on this therapy continues our mission of building safe and inclusive space to all people."
The ban will go into effect as soon as the ordinance is officially published. Violations of the ban will be considered misdemeanors and will be punishable by a $500 fine and up to 93 days in jail. Ferndale is the second Michigan city to enact such a ban. Huntington Woods became the first in June.
Democratic State Rep. Yousef Rabhi of Ann Arbor and State Sen. Mallory McMorrow of Royal Oak have introduced legislation that would ban conversion therapy for LGBTQ youth. But both chambers are currently controlled by Republicans who oppose such a ban.
Conversion therapy, sometimes called reparative therapy, has long been debunked and deemed harmful by the medical community at large. Nationally, 17 states and the District of Columbia ban conversion therapy.
Music said that the idea for the ban was presented to her by a constituent.
"He stated that he thought it was time for our city to take a stance against this harmful practice and join Huntington Woods in banning this therapy," Music told Between The Lines after the meeting. "I'm very thankful to Councilman Dennis Whittie who pointed out that we could make the ordinance more stringent by changing some wording. Dennis' contribution has given us the voice to make the most strict enforcement possible."
Though her term may be short, Music said she is determined to make the most of it.
"There are several things I hope to get done during my time on council," she said. "A lot of the council year is already set in motion so I want to make sure that my voice is brought to the table on those issues. Blight has been something that I have been working against for years and hope to be able to move more stringent enforcement ahead while on council."

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