State Senator Matt McCoy (D-Des Moines), Iowa’s only openly homosexual (that I’m aware of anyway), state legislator introduced SF 31 on Wednesday. In a nutshell it basically says that any licensed therapist, counselor, social worker, etc. who engages in trying to change the sexual orientation of a minor should face disciplinary action.
Fascinating.
Here is the explanation given at the end of the bill:
This bill prohibits a mental health provider from engaging in sexual orientation change efforts with a patient under 18 years of age. The bill provides that a mental health provider who engages in sexual orientation change efforts with a patient under 18 years of age is subject to disciplinary action by the entity or disciplinary authority with professional jurisdiction over the mental health provider.
Let’s be clear about who he is targeting here. Parents. In McCoy’s mind parents can’t seek professional help for a child who is struggling with their sexual orientation. Instead of picking up that political hot potato he’s doing the next best thing.
Notice what “sexual orientation change efforts” doesn’t include in the bill.
Counseling or therapy that provides acceptance, support, and understanding of the individual or the facilitation of an individual’s coping, social support, and identity exploration and development, including sexual orientation-neutral interventions to prevent or address unlawful conduct or unsafe sexual practices.
Christian counselors need not apply. Most Christian counselors I know, and I know quite a few who are licensed, would never coerce a client into change. Why? Because you can’t “force” anyone to change, not bring about real change anyway. It is simply ineffective. The gospel however is extremely effective, just ask the former lesbian, liberal college professor we interviewed on Caffeinated Thoughts Radio a couple of weeks ago. Even so for McCoy to attempt to have the state intervene in between parents, their child and the counselor they have sought out is appalling.
Now if this therapist is engaging in abusive behavior, as defined in Iowa Code, in order to bring about a change that’s a different story and we already have laws dealing with that. This is simply anti-religious bigotry on his part.
I would hope that even in a Democrat-led Senate this bill won’t see the light of day outside a subcommittee. I notice that all of his colleagues at least have the good sense not to co-sponsor this nonsense bill. It is disturbing to see that Iowa Medical Society lobbyists registered in favor of it.
So what’s next? Is McCoy going to target pastors and youth pastors who counsel against homosexuality? Can we drop any pretense that McCoy represents Iowa Senate District 21 anymore? He represents himself and his agenda. He’s an activist who masquerades as a state legislator.