TITLE
Recommendation to support AB 2943 (Low), which would declare conversion therapy a fraudulent and unlawful business practice in California, and request City Manager to communicate the City's support to the bill's author and our state legislative delegation.
DISCUSSION
Assembly Bill 2943 by Assemblymember Evan Low would make sexual orientation change
efforts, also known as conversion therapy, an unlawful business practice under the state's
Consumer Legal Remedies Act.
Sexual orientation change efforts are defined in state law as practices by mental health
providers that seek to change an individual's sexual orientation, including efforts to change
behaviors or gender expressions, or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attractions or
feelings toward individuals of the same sex.
The American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association, American
Counseling Association, National Association of Social Workers, and American Medical
Association, among other professional medical and mental health organizations and
professional associations, oppose the practice of conversion therapy on the basis that it is not
evidence-based and is potentially harmful to a patient's mental health.
In 2012, California because the first state in the nation to prohibit conversion therapy for any
patients under 18 years of age. That law has since been upheld by the 9th Circuit Court of
Appeals.
AB 2943 would extend the prohibition on sexual orientation change efforts to all persons,
regardless of age. It would extend certain consumer protections to individuals harmed by such
efforts, and restrict advertising and offering of conversion therapy.
Supporting this legislation is consistent with Long Beach's values and priority to protect the
dignity and rights of all of our residents.
As Rick Zbur, the Executive Director of Equality California said, "So-called conversion therapy
is a dangerous, ineffective solution in search of a nonexistent problem, and there's no place for
it in the State of California."
The State Assembly approved AB 2943 in April on a bipartisan vote of 50-18. The bill is now
awaiting a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
None.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact with this recommendation.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
COUNCILMAN AL AUSTIN,
EIGHTH DISTRICT
COUNCILWOMAN LENA GONZALEZ,
FIRST DISTRICT
COUNCILWOMAN SUZIE PRICE,
THIRD DISTRICT