The city of Pittsburgh banned ex-gay conversion therapy for minor on Thursday, becoming the first city in Pennsylvania to do so.
The City Council voted unanimously in favor of the ban and Mayor Bill Peduto says he will sign the legislation.
Numerous medical and psychiatric groups oppose use of the “conversion therapy.” Councilman Dan Gilman says some residents advocated Tuesday’s council action due to concerns about Republican Vice President-elect Mike Pence’s views on the practice.
A Pence spokesman denies that the vice president-elect supports conversion therapy, but during a 2000 congressional campaign he advocated for institutions that help individuals who want to change their sexual behavior.
More from The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
The measure will ban mental health professionals in the city from using the method on anyone younger than 18. Opposed by a host of professional groups, conversion therapy attempts to change sexual orientation or how people identify their gender.
