Bill Text: HI SCR39 | 2017 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Urging The Governor, Democratic Members Of The State Legislature, And Hawaii's Congressional Delegation To Ban Conversion Therapy.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-01-30 - Referred to CPH, JDL. [SCR39 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2017-SCR39-Introduced.html

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THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	39
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

Urging the Governor, democratic members of the State Legislature, and hawaii's Congressional delegation to ban conversion therapy.

 

 

     WHEREAS, conversion therapy is currently being practiced in the State of Hawaii; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Democratic Party of Hawaii supports a ban on conversion therapy for minors and adults as stated in the party's healthcare plank of the party platform passed by unanimous vote at the 2014 Democratic Party of Hawaii State Convention; and

 

     WHEREAS, the American Counseling Association's "Primary Responsibility" standard states that "the primary responsibility of counselors is to respect the dignity and to promote the welfare of clients"; and

 

     WHEREAS, the American Counseling Association's "Avoiding Harm" standard provides that referring a client to a counselor who engages in a treatment modality not endorsed by the profession and that may, in fact, cause harm does not promote the welfare of clients; and

 

     WHEREAS, President Barack Obama, along with medical professional organizations such as the World Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association, American Counseling Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American School Counselor Association, and National Association of Social Workers have all come out against conversion therapy as a form of torture; and

 

     WHEREAS, six jurisdictions in the United States - California, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Vermont, and the District of Columbia - have banned conversion therapy on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity or expression in their respective states; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-ninth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2017, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Governor, democratic members of the State Legislature, and Hawaii's congressional delegation are urged to ban conversion therapy based on the overwhelming scientific evidence that there is no way to change a person's sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, regardless of the type of adverse therapy a person is put through, including but not limited to:  inducing nausea, vomiting, or paralysis while showing the patient homoerotic images; providing electric shocks; having the individual snap an elastic band around the wrist when aroused by same-sex erotic images or thoughts; using shame to create aversion to same-sex attractions; orgasmic reconditioning; hypnosis; behavior or cognitive therapies; sex therapies; psychotropic medication; and satiation therapy; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor, democratic members of the State Legislature, and Hawaii's congressional delegation are urged to ban conversion therapy based on the fact that the barbaric practice is detrimental to society since the practice is wholly futile and the side effects on survivors include but are not limited to:  depression; guilt; helplessness; hopelessness; shame; social withdrawal; suicidality; substance abuse; stress; disappointment; self-blame; decreased self-esteem and authenticity to others; hostility and blame toward parents; increased self-hatred; feelings of anger and betrayal; loss of friends and potential romantic partners; problems in sexual and emotional intimacy; sexual dysfunction; high-risk sexual behaviors; feelings of being dehumanized and untrue to self; loss of faith; and a sense of having wasted time and resources; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the democratic members of the Hawaii State Legislature are urged to introduce and pass legislation to ban conversion therapy on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity or expression; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor is urged to support legislation to ban conversion therapy and once legislation is passed by the Legislature, to sign the bill that will ban conversion therapy; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii congressional delegation is urged to introduce and pass a bill that would ban conversion therapy at the national level; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chair of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, and members of Hawaii's congressional delegation.

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title: 

Conversion Therapy; Ban