Grace Ackerman
Activities: Varsity Tennis-captain, UNICEF, Great Planes Aviation student pilot;
Scholastic Achievements: Mayo Clinic Dependent Scholarship candidate, Honors Diploma, Big 9 All-Conference, Mayo Honor Society;
Future Plans: Minnesota State University-Mankato, majoring in aviation to become a professional pilot.
Grace Ackerman (submitted photo)
Parents: Anjali and Sumit Bhagra;
Activities: Mayo Tennis Team, Rochester-Olmsted County Youth Commission, Stories of Stigma and Strength, Debate Team, Student Government;
Scholastic Achievements: National Merit Scholarship finalist, Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Award, two-time National Spanish Exam Silver Award, CECAC Community Grant winner, Outstanding Mayo Clinic Youth Volunteer;
Community Service/Volunteer Work: Mayo Clinic Young Volunteers Program, Key Club, Public Health Safety Advisory Board member;
Created: December 16, 2020 07:11 PM
(ABC 6 News) - 20 states in the United States ban the practice of conversion therapy, and Minnesota is not part of that list.
Minnesota, along with other states like Wisconsin, the Dakotas, and Iowa, have no statewide ban for conversion therapy. Within Minnesota, there are seven cities, as well as one county that has either instituted their bans, called for a statewide ban, or both. Olmsted County joined that list on Tuesday.
Conversion Therapy is a practice that works to convert those who identify as LGBTQ+ to change their sexual orientation through different practices. The practice is based on the idea that sexual orientation can be changed however, the American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association as well as the United States Surgeon General David Satcher denounce either the practice or say that sexual orientation cannot be changed.
Olmsted County Board of Commissioners takes a stance against conversion therapy
The Rochester-Olmsted County Youth Commission played an important role in getting the issue through the board.
Posted: Dec 15, 2020 7:20 PM
Posted By: Annalise Johnson
ROCHESTER, Minn. - The Olmsted County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution in support of banning the practice of conversion therapy in Minnesota.
The Rochester-Olmsted County Youth Commission played an important role in getting the issue through the board.
“Olmsted County aims to be a welcoming place for individuals of all sexual orientations and gender identities,” said Rochester-Olmsted County Youth Commission member Shikha Kumar. “With today’s resolution, Olmsted County has delivered the message that all LGBTQ+ people in the county should be free from ineffective, fraudulent, and damaging treatment.”
Resolution supports ban on attempts to convert gay people to straight people.
Written By:
Post Bulletin staff reports | 1:30 pm, Dec. 15, 2020 ×
Olmsted County logo
Olmsted County commissioners agreed Tuesday that so-called conversion therapy is a discredited practice that is unethical and harmful.
A resolution passed by the board without comment also cited support of a statewide ban on the controversial practice that attempts to “convert” a gay person to a straight person.
“The Rochester-Olmsted County Youth Commission along with the Olmsted County Board of Commissioners believe that conversion therapy is a harmful practice that has no place in our community,” Rochester-Olmsted County Youth Commission member Arhan Mehta said in a statement following the board’s decision. “Conversion therapy has been shown to cause serious and dangerous harms such as depression, increased suicidal behaviors, lowered self-esteem, anxiety, internalized homophobia, and