Cleveland City Council Ordinance 696-2022

C OF C 125-174
Ordinance No. 696-2022 AN EMERGENCY ORDINANCE

To supplement the Codified Ordinances of
Cleveland, Ohio 1976, by enacting new Section
By Council Members Mooney, 667.06, Efforts to Change Sexual Orientation,
McCormack, Spencer, Maurer and Howse Gender Identity, or Expression, prohibiting the
practice of conversion therapy on minors and
prescribing penalties for violation of that section.
WHEREAS, the practice of conversion therapy, reparative therapy, sexual
orientation change efforts, and other practices that seek to change or alter a person’s
sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression have been widely condemned by
expert bodies, such as the American Psychological Association, the American Psychiatric
Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics; and
WHEREAS, the American Psychological Association issued a resolution in 2009
and again in 2021 that advises parents and guardians of young people and their families
against the use of conversion therapy, reparative therapy, or sexual orientation change
efforts, citing a strong association with negative mental health outcomes such as
depression, social withdrawal, anxiety, suicidality, and substance abuse; and
WHEREAS, Cleveland City Council has a responsibility to protect the health and
well-being of all Cleveland residents, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender
residents; and
WHEREAS, this Council intends to prohibit within the boundaries of the City of
Cleveland the practice of sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression change
efforts, or any other practice seeking to fundamentally alter the sexual orientation,
gender identity, or expression of another person; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance constitutes an emergency measure providing for the
usual daily operation of a municipal department and constitutes an emergency measure
providing for the immediate preservation of the public peace, property, health and
safety; now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CLEVELAND:

Ordinance No. 696-2022
Section 1. That the Codified Ordinances of Cleveland, Ohio 1976, are
supplemented by enaction new Section 667.06 as follows:
Section 667.06 Efforts to Change Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, or

Expression
(a) Definitions:
(1) “Mental health professional” means an individual who is licensed, certified or

registered under the laws of the State of Ohio to provide, to an individual or a group,
mental health services, including but not limited to, the assessment or improvement of
mental, emotional, psychiatric, psychological, or psychosocial adjustment or
functioning, regardless of whether there is a diagnosable, pre-existing disorder or
disease. Mental health professionals include, but are not limited to, physicians
specializing in the practice of psychiatry, psychologists, marriage and family therapists,
licensed social workers, professional clinical counselors, behavioral clinicians or
therapists, nurses, or any other persons offering such mental health services.
(2) “Minor” means a person less than eighteen (18) years of age.
(3) “Sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression change efforts” means any
practices that seek to change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity,
including efforts to change behaviors or gender expressions, or to eliminate or reduce
sexual or romantic attraction or feelings toward individuals of the same sex. “Sexual
orientation, gender identity, or expression change efforts” does not include
psychotherapies or therapeutic activities that provide acceptance, support, and
understanding for an 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, as long
as such practices do not seek to change sexual orientation or gender identity.
(b) Efforts to Change Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, or Expression Prohibited
No mental health professional shall knowingly engage, within the geographic

boundaries of the City of Cleveland, in sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression
change efforts with a minor, without regard to whether the mental health professional is
compensated or receives any form of renumeration for his or her services.
(c) Licensing Board Notification
In addition to the penalty imposed in Section 667.99, upon conviction of a

violation of Section 667.06, the relevant licensing board, commission, or entity tasked
with review of professional conduct shall be notified of the violation.
Section 2. That this ordinance is declared to be an emergency measure and,

provided it receives the affirmative vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to
Council, it shall take effect and be in force immediately upon its passage and approval by
the Mayor; otherwise it shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period
allowed by law.
/jho
7/13/2022
FOR: Councilmembers Mooney, McCormack, Spencer, Maurer, Howse
2
Ord. No. 696-2022 REPORT
after second Reading
By Council Members Mooney, McCormack, Spencer, Maurer, and
Howse
AN EMERGENCY ORDINANCE
To supplement the Codified Ordinances of Cleveland, Ohio 1976, by enacting
new Section 667.06, Efforts to Change Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, or
Expression, prohibiting the practice of conversion therapy on minors and
prescribing penalties for violation of that section.
READ FIRST TIME on JULY 13, 2022 REPORTS
and referred to DIRECTORS of Finance, Law;
COMMITTEE on Finance Diversity Equity and Inclusion
CITY CLERK
READ SECOND TIME
CITY CLERK
READ THIRD TIME
PRESIDENT
CITY CLERK
APPROVED
MAYOR
Recorded Vol. 109 Page

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Cleveland City Council Ordinance 696-2022

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C OF C 125-174

Ordinance No. 696-2022 AN EMERGENCY ORDINANCE

WHEREAS, the practice of conversion therapy, reparative therapy, sexual

sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression have been widely condemned by

Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics; and

WHEREAS, the American Psychological Association issued a resolution in 2009

depression, social withdrawal, anxiety, suicidality, and substance abuse; and

Cleveland the practice of sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression change

gender identity, or expression of another person; and

WHEREAS, this ordinance constitutes an emergency measure providing for the

usual daily operation of a municipal department and constitutes an emergency measure

safety; now, therefore,

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CLEVELAND:

Section 1. That the Codified Ordinances of Cleveland, Ohio 1976, are

supplemented by enaction new Section 667.06 as follows:

Section 667.06 Efforts to Change Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, or

(1) “Mental health professional” means an individual who is licensed, certified or

(b) Efforts to Change Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, or Expression Prohibited

No mental health professional shall knowingly engage, within the geographic

(c) Licensing Board Notification

In addition to the penalty imposed in Section 667.99, upon conviction of a

Section 2. That this ordinance is declared to be an emergency measure and,

READ SECOND TIME

READ THIRD TIME

Recorded Vol. 109 Page

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