Meeting Public Comments

Wes Mullins []

Dear Legislators,My name is Rev. Wes Mullins, and I am a survivor of Conversion Therapy. Now 43, from the ages of 1621, I spent nearly $30,000 of my own money (from waiting tables mostly) on Conversion Therapy. Beyond the sheer amount of money that those therapists took from such a young person, I was misled by these practitioners about the real ability of any therapy to change sexual orientation. No therapy has ever been proven effective at changing a persons sexual orientation. What has been proven over and over is the many ways that these types of therapies can cause harm.As my name and title above suggests, I am an ordained pastor. I am the Seminary valedictorian of Brite Divinity School at TCU, class of 2005. As such, I am a deeply religious person of Christian faith, and it was that same deep faith that led me pursue Conversion Therapy at the behest of religious leaders in my life who told me that my sexual orientation would cause God to send me to hell. To tell a pubescent teenager that their very selfhood is sinful and will condemn them to eternal torment (with no hope of forgiveness) is the exact kind of spiritual harm that Conversion Therapy rests on. In my five years of weekly treatment, every single participant in this therapy was there because of their religious concerns. Beyond the spiritual abuse and harm that is at the heart of Conversion Therapy, the therapy itself also inflicts a variety of other harm. From the extreme examples of shock therapy to less extreme examples like behavior modification, the entire process interrupts and prevents a persons ability to develop normal, healthy, and safe expressions of love and affection. This key developmental task of adolescence was delayed for a decade in my life because of the harm of this therapy, and I still deal with the ramifications of that more than 20 years later.Finally, in 2013, Exodus International, the largest Conversion Therapy organization in the United States, closed and apologized for the harm their organization had done. Here is a link to just one of many articles where you can read their own words about the harm that this therapythat they createdcaused: https://www.reuters.com/article/ususagayexodusidUSBRE95J0W020130620/This therapy may seem innocuouseven helpfulbut it is dangerous. Please do not be fooled. Please do not advance this bill. If anything, we should join with other states across the country who have banned it statewide. Again, please do not advance this bill. By doing so, you will help ensure that we do not raise another generation of young people who experience the kind of harm that I endured. Thank you,Rev. Wes Mullins

Archer Trip []

Dear Legislatives, I am a 21 year old who has freshly graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a degree in Sociology, as well as minors within Women and Gender Studies and Religion. I am also a survivor of conversion therapy. My family was very connected in our local church, to the point that my siblings and I were a part of a small youth group. Out of this youth group, five teens including myself, were assumed to be queer in one way or another. This allowed for the authorities within the church to change normal youth group lessons to extremist views and lessons that were based within homophobia and transphobia. These sessions went on every week, forcing every student to be specifically straight and cisgender. I feel as if it is my duty on behalf of them, as well as for all queer youth and other survivors of conversion therapy to share my story and stand against this bill. Conversion therapy does not work. After I was able to move away to college, I came out safely as a transgender man, and have worked for two years at the LGBTQ+ centers and coalitions within my town. In spite of the harm that was caused to me and many other survivors, I have always been queer. Conversion therapy does not work, and only causes harm and stress to anyone involved. We need to protect our children, our community, and our neighbors from this danger.

Brenda Masters []

Forcing a child into conversion therapy is hurtful to the child and allowing cities to decide such things when their views are clearly taken from the pulpit and not any sort of care about the child's welfare should not be allowed.

Gretchen Lawyer []

Local Government Subcommittee Members,I am writing in opposition to SF 2037 which would prohibit city and county governments from doing the work that their citizens have elected them to do. This bill runs counter to what is written on our Iowa seal "Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain." Local control has been central to our Iowa values within our citizenry. Local governments need to have the authority and autonomy over behavioral health, psychology and social work services, just as they do with all the other parts of city and county government. This bill would create more problems rather than solutions. Please vote against moving this bill out of subcommittee. Thank you,Gretchen Lawyer