Kern’s conversion therapy bill set for hearing

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – Legislation that would prohibit the state from regulating the practice of "conversion therapy" is scheduled to be heard in an Oklahoma House committee.

Conversion therapy involves a range of practices that are aimed at changing one’s sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. Other states have passed legislation to ban the practice.

The bill by Republican state Rep. Sally Kern of Oklahoma City is opposed by major medical and psychological associations who say conversion therapy is a dangerous and discredited practice. They say Kern’s bill is the first of its kind in the U.S.

Kern’s bill authorizes a mental health provider to engage in sexual orientation change efforts with a child under 18 and prohibits state officials from interfering in those efforts.