FOR CITY OF MILWAUKEE RESIDENTS ONLY

Recently the Milwaukee Common Council passed and Mayor Tom Barrett signed an ordinance  (p. 198, Sec. 75-19) that bans minors from receiving what is known as “conversion” counseling or therapy if any kind of a fee is paid for the counseling.  So-called “conversion” counseling is that which offers real help and real hope to people dealing with unwanted same-sex attraction or unwanted gender confusion, the sort of counseling Christian pastors, counselors, teachers, and others would use in seeking to help young people  (or anyone for that matter) dealing with these issues. The ordinance says the only kind of counseling/therapy that is permitted for these issues is that which affirms or encourages homosexuality or transgender behavior.

Attorneys from Alliance Defending Freedom have indicated that the ban is a direct threat against the right of parents to make decisions they believe are in the best interest of their children and also threatens the right of pastors, churches and other ministries to teach, advise and counsel as they see fit from a biblical perspective. (See below for links to Legal Analysis.)

Milwaukee pastors and ministry leaders are very concerned about this new ban and are conducting a petition drive to get as many signatures of other concerned Milwaukee residents as possible. Currently, signing the petition online is not available. However, the pastors/ministry leaders are urging Milwaukee citizens to download the print copy and get signatures on the hard-copy. (Mailing address to return petitions is at the bottom of the petition.)

Petition to rescind Milwaukee conversion counseling ban (English)

Petition to rescind Milwaukee conversion counseling ban (Spanish)

Legal analysis of threat of Milwaukee conversion counseling ban (English)

Legal analysis of threat of Milwaukee conversion counseling ban (Spanish)