On Tuesday Sen. Greg Leding (D – Fayetteville) and Rep. Tippi McCullough (D – Little Rock) filed S.B. 510 prohibiting so-called “conversion therapy” for minors in Arkansas.
S.B. 510 would prevent healthcare professionals from providing children with assistance overcoming unwanted same-sex attraction or gender confusion.
However, the bill would permit pro-LGBT counseling.
In other words, S.B. 510 would let counselors, doctors, and other healthcare professionals encourage children to accept same-sex attraction or disagree with their biological sex, but healthcare professionals would not be able to help children overcome unwanted same-sex attraction or accept their biological sex.
S.B. 510 infringes free speech and the free exercise of religion among licensed healthcare professionals. It does not contain any exceptions for healthcare professionals who have deeply-held religious convictions against performing pro-LGBT counseling.
It fails to account for the fact that many medical professionals, like the American College of Pediatricians, believe that encouraging a child to disagree with his or her biological sex amounts to child abuse.
Simply put: S.B. 510 is a radical, pro-LGBT proposal that would undermine the health and safety of children in Arkansas.
