Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Andrew J. Meyers
Department: County Attorney
Information
Requested Action
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MOTION TO ADOPT Resolution, the title of which is as follows:
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA, OPPOSING CONVERSION THERAPY ON MINORS; AND PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
(Sponsored by Senator Nan H. Rich)
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Why Action is Necessary
Formal Board approval is necessary for the adoption of a Resolution.
What Action Accomplishes
Enables the adoption of the Resolution.
Is this Action Goal Related
No
Previous Action Taken
Summary Explanation/Background
Conversion therapy or reparative therapy is counseling performed with the goal of changing an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity, including, but not limited to, efforts to change behaviors, gender identity, or gender expression, or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward individuals of the same gender or sex. The overwhelming research demonstrates that sexual orientation and gender identity change efforts pose critical health risks to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender nonconforming, or gender-questioning persons, and that being lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender nonconforming, or gender-questioning is not a mental disease, mental disorder, mental illness, deficiency, or shortcoming. Broward County has a compelling interest in protecting the physical and psychological well-being of minors, including, but not limited to, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender nonconforming, and gender-questioning youth, and in protecting its minors against exposure to serious harms caused by sexual orientation and gender identity change efforts.
On July 20, 2022, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals denied a motion for rehearing en banc of its decision finding unconstitutional a local ordinance banning conversion therapy that is substantively identical to a Broward County Ordinance. Under a separate item on this meeting agenda, the Board is considering, as recommended by the County Attorney's Office, repealing the County’s Ordinance. This Resolution demonstrates the Board's continued opposition to conversion therapy because of the serious harm that is caused by sexual orientation and gender identity change efforts.
Source of Additional Information
Adam M. Katzman, Senior Assistant County Attorney, 954-357-7600
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
None.