The Norman City Council voted unanimously during its meeting Tuesday night to ban conversion therapy on minors.The city council voted to make it illegal for licensed medical and mental health facilities to use city money to practice conversion therapy – changing someone from homosexual to heterosexual and preventing them from being transgender. It s an opportunity to create safer, more inclusive space for minors who are in these situations and are currently exposed to these practices on conversion therapy, said Cinthya Allen, the City of Norman s chief diversity and equity officer.Allen told KOCO 5 the city s human rights commission brought the issue to the forefront. Conversion therapy is a practice that isn t backed by mental or medical associations, Allen said. (The newly passed law) prohibits that from being practiced upon minors. So, it gives that added protection. Those in violation of the ordinance can face a fine of $750 and 60 days in jail. It does not impact priva
17 hrs ago
A concerned citizen, Mary Francis, supports a conversion therapy ban and asks council to approve it at the Tuesday night special meeting. Mindy Ragan Wood / The Transcript
Advocates against conversion therapy applauded the Norman City Councilâs decision to ban the practice during a special session Tuesday night, while others claimed the city was acting outside its purview.
The council adopted the ordinance unanimously. Ward 8 Matt Peacock was absent.
Conversion therapy is a practice that attempts to change a personâs sexual orientation to heterosexual; itâs been called harmful and dangerous by the Human Rights Campaign, LGBTQ advocates and the American Psychiatric Association.
A sign posted outside City Hall noting that the June 8 budget meeting had reached capacity. Via Russell Rice, an administrator for the Social Injustice League of Norman
It all meant that at 6:30 p.m., June 8, the simmering pot was set to boil. City groups from all backgrounds would have the opportunity to speak on several law enforcement items, including the approval of the NPDâs budget and discussion surrounding two amendments made by Ward 1 Councilmember Brandi Studley to fund an unarmed non-police mobile crisis response program.
For some, however, four words not used surrounding council meetings in recent decades would prevent them from taking the podium.
7 hrs ago
The Norman City Council will convene next month for a two-day retreat â open to the public â to discuss how it will spend millions in federal aid, upcoming elections and goals for the remainder of the fiscal year.
Council and staff will meet at the NCED Hotel & Conference Center in Norman July 16-17, beginning at 9 a.m. on both days.
The public is welcome to attend, City Clerk Brenda Hall said.
âThe meeting is open to the public to observe only because a quorum of council is present, which triggers the requirements for the Open Meeting Act,â Hall said.