We’re hearing it a lot around Capitol Square these days, but elections have consequences. Not just for guns.
The state Senate Tuesday passed legislation, sponsored by state Sen. Scott Surovell, D-Mount Vernon, banning licensed counselors, psychologists and psychiatrists from subjecting children to conversion therapy — the often abusive or coercive treatments that allege they can change a person’s sexual orientation. Similar measures have died in past years.
Surovell said the treatments have resulted in suicides and depression.
State Sen.Amanda Chase, R-Chesterfield, said she felt the bill interfered with counselors’ freedom of speech, while state Sen. Siobhan Dunnavant, R-Henrico, said she didn’t lapprove of conversion therapy but also that she didn’t like the idea of writing standards of medical care into the Code of Virginia, nothing that state regulations already barred the practice.
But state Sen. Adam Ebbin, D-Alexandria, pointed out that the Code sets standards of care for abortion.
“This bill will save lives,” he said.
The bill passed on a largely party-line vote of 21-18, with state Sen. Jill Vogel, R-Fauquier, joining 20 Democrats in support.
The Senate also repealed a state law, invalidated by a U.S. Supreme Court ruling, that banned same sex marriage, directed the state Department of Education to set guidelines for how public schools are treat transgender students, and to direct state officials to issue a new birth certificate to reflect an individual’s change of sex.
The Senate also passed a measure removing Lee-Jackson Day as a state holiday and replacing it with Election Day.
Shad Plank is the Daily Press blog that tracks Virginia politics. It takes its name from the traditional Shad Planking political get-together, though hopefully it is tastier than the roasted fish featured at that Sussex County event. To contact Dave Ress with tips or questions, call 757-247-4535 or email dress@dailypress.com
