By: Mary Steurer (North Dakota Monitor)
The Senate on Thursday defeated a bill 22-25 that originally sought to legalize conversion therapy.
Initially, House Bill 1430 bill would have authorized social workers to provide “a treatment plan or counseling plan that aligns with heterosexuality or the individual’s biological sex,” so long as it was freely chosen by the client.
The bill was introduced by Rep. Lori VanWinkle, R-Minot, who said people should have the right to seek treatments that affirm their religious beliefs about sexuality or gender. She previously told lawmakers that she is concerned most counseling is now LGBTQ-affirming and therefore would not be helpful for someone with anti-LGBTQ beliefs.
“To prohibit counseling that aligns with traditional or biblical viewpoints is religious discrimination,” she said.
The North Dakota Board of Social Work Examiners and North Dakota Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers opposed the bill, arguing that it endorsed a form of treatment widely denounced as ineffective and unethical, and was grounded in misunderstandings about how counseling works.
Licensed social workers are already barred from providing conversion therapy under regulations set by the Board of Social Work Examiners.
In committee hearings, multiple social workers testified that they don’t try to force people to accept their gender identity or sexual orientation. They said counselors are trained to support their clients, not tell them what to think.
The Senate Human Services Committee adopted an amendment that sought to address many of those concerns. The amendment said social workers may provide counseling to an individual who “wants to align their sexuality or gender with the individual’s personal or spiritual beliefs,” but also specifically held that conversion therapy is illegal.
Sen. Tim Mathern, a Fargo Democrat and licensed social worker, opposed both versions of House Bill 1430. He said on the floor Thursday that the amended bill wouldn’t accomplish anything since it parrots existing regulations.
“This bill essentially says, ‘Do what you’re doing — listen to people and help make choices,’” Mathern said. “It’s a total waste of the Century Code.”
Kristin Roers, R-Fargo, also opposed the bill. She said if the bill passed it would have been the first time North Dakota put ethical standards set by a occupational board into Century Code, which raises questions about government overreach.
