Columbia City Council defers vote on conversion therapy ban for 2nd time

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — After deferring a vote on May 20th, Columbia City council members held a special-called meeting Tuesday afternoon to further discuss whether or not the city should repeal its 2021 ban on conversion therapy.

Conversion therapy is an attempt to change someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity through practices that have been condemned as dangerous, harmful, and ineffective by multiple major health and psychological organizations.

The meeting began at 3 p.m. with Mayor Daniel Rickenmann and other council members leaving the room for an hour under executive session.

When they returned an hour later, Rickenmann explained why he thought all of this had really come about, adding that he and his family have received threats over the possible repeal.

“For two years it was quiet and you have an attorney general now and a senator now, who are running for governor. We didn’t create this,” he says.

The mayor added that he believes the current ban “has no teeth” — reiterating to the crowd that it only carries civil penalties, and does nothing to stop religious groups from practicing conversion therapy.

Rickenmann promised the crowd that any reports of abuse from conversion therapy would be dealt with, saying, “We’re gonna continue to protect the community, but using laws that we actually can enforce.”

City Manager Teresa Wilson then addressed the importance of the more than $3.7 million in funding that the city stands to lose due to a recent budget proviso voted on by the SC General Assembly that revokes state dollars from any local government that enacts a ban on conversion therapy — calling it a gaping hole in the budget.

“The general fund of the city funds the core city functions. Your trash being picked up, your public safety needs, operating our parks, maintaining infrastructure,” she says.

Two people came forward to ask that the ban be repealed.

“We do not need this ordinance, there are state and federal laws that protect all of us,” said one man.

However nearly 20 community members, advocates, and faith leaders came forward to fight for keeping the ban on conversion therapy in place with Rep. James Smith saying, “Conversion therapy is not therapy, it is abuse masquerading as treatment.”

At the end of the meeting, the council made a motion to defer, with a vote taking place at a later date.

That date has yet to be determined.