Republican State Sen. Jesse Green highlighted hypocrisy from Democrats on Wednesday during an Iowa Senate subcommittee hearing on Senate File 2037. The bill, which prohibits cities and counties from counseling censorship, passed 2-1.
Liberal opponents of the bill took issue with the effort because they claim it aims to ban so-called “conversion therapy.” Some Iowa cities and counties have indeed banned the practice of talk therapy during which a child receives counseling to address confusion as it relates to their sexual orientation or gender identity. The only counseling that is approved in such jurisdictions is counseling that affirms the feelings of confusion.
Democrat State Sen. Herman Quirmbach said he is “very disappointed” the state is trampling on local control but also that Iowa has failed to protect children from what he called “a quack medical procedure.”
Samantha Fett, a member of the public, spoke in support of the bill as she asked what authority a city or county has over medical professionals. The licensing boards are handled at the state level, she added.
Besides that concern, Fett said it is a First Amendment issue.
“Therapist-client speech is protected by the First Amendment,” she said.
Fett called efforts to ban such counseling is “an overreach and unconstitutional.”
Daniel Stalder of the Iowa League of Cities said the organization is undecided on the bill, but generally, pre-emption bills display a lack of respect for local decision-making by the state.
Jamie Cashman with the Iowa State Association of Counties said that the group is also undecided and is curious about where the overreach is occurring.
Keenan Crow, who represents One Iowa, said the bill obviously targets talk therapy bans and said its existence demonstrates such talk therapy is taking place in Iowa.
Crow called such talk therapy sessions “dangerous” and “discredited.” He went so far as to say nobody thinks it is an appropriate form of therapy or therapy at all.
Connie Ryan of the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa Action Fund disputed whether someone can change their sexual orientation.
“It doesn’t happen,” she said.
Ryan claimed children who undergo counseling to address confusion as it relates to their sexual orientation or gender identity have an increased risk of suicide.
“Condemnations of same-sex relationships have created a crushing burden of shame,” she said.
Such condemnations have also led to alienation from God, the church and families for LGBTQ Christians, Ryan claimed.
Planned Parenthood lobbyist Mazie Stilwell said the group is registered opposed to the bill because the leading abortion provider believes in “protecting kids.”
“We certainly hope that’d be an interest of the subcommittee to protect kids in our state,” she said. “We know that conversion therapy is deeply harmful to youth in our state.”
Stilwell claimed again the leading abortion provider opposes the bill out of the interest of “protecting kids.”
Chuck Hurley of The FAMiLY Leader discussed the recent reversal of such a counseling ban by the city of Waterloo. Shortly after the council passed the counseling ban, it received a letter expressing concerns over the constitutionality of such a ban. Not long after the ban was rescinded by the same council that passed it.
“I think it’s unwise to encourage any municipality in Iowa to pass something that they’re going to lose on due to the First Amendment,” Hurley said. “I just encourage you to save local time and expense and, frankly, some embarrassment for stepping on First Amendment liberties.”
Republican State Sen. Dennis Guth said the state is already involved in the licensing of counselors. He supported the legislation.
Quirmbach finished his closing statement by expressing that there is “nothing wrong with being gay.” And, in his words, it wasn’t just his judgment but the judgment of professional medical associations that, while they previously considered there was something wrong with homosexuality, have now embraced it.
“There’s no reason to try to change someone’s orientation,” Quirmbach said. “Even if you try, it doesn’t work.”
Quirmbach asserted that cities and counties banning such counseling are simply providing “consumer protection.”
“So that children are not subject to that kind of abuse, that kind of quackery, that kind of brainwashing,” he said.
The First Amendment, Quirmbach said, does not cover the practice of medicine or a variety of social service areas. Rather than protecting the right for parents to seek the counseling services they desire for their children, Quirmbach said the state should be banning talk therapy.
Guth asked Quirmbach if he would be interested in hearing the stories told by individuals who were previously homosexual but now are heterosexual. Quirmbach refused.
“Anecdotes aren’t data,” Quirmbach replied, noting he would be willing to look at “any published study.”
Republican State Sen. Jesse Green, who chaired the subcommittee, wrapped up the meeting by pointing out the obvious contradiction of Democrat opposition.
“Well, Democrats have touted for years the government should not get between a patient and provider,” he said. “On this bill, I agree with that sentiment.”
The bill advanced to the full committee on a 2-1 vote with support from Green and Guth. Its fate now rests with the full Iowa Senate Local Government Committee.
Members of the committee are:
Sen. Jesse Green – [email protected]
Sen. Mark Lofgren – [email protected]
Sen. Janice Weiner – [email protected]
Sen. Dawn Driscoll – [email protected]
Sen. Dennis Guth – [email protected]
Sen. Mike Klimesh – [email protected]
Sen. Izaah Knox – [email protected]
Sen. Herman Quirmbach – [email protected]
Sen. Tom Shipley – [email protected]
Sen. Scott Webster – [email protected]
Sen. Cherielynn Westrich – [email protected]
Sen. Cindy Winckler – [email protected]
