House committee passes expansive bill to ban LGBT conversion therapy for minors

Rep. Jason Dunnington (D-OKC) presented HB3872, the 'Youth Mental Health Protection Act', in the House Committee on Children, Youth and Family Services yesterday. The bill bans the use of so-called "conversion therapy" on minors, with no exemptions (unlike a similar bill in Utah that is being pushed as a model in red states by LGBT advocates).

HB3872 defines conversion therapy as this:

1. "Conversion therapy" means any practice or treatment that seeks to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity, including, but not limited to, any effort to change behaviors or gender expressions or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward persons of the same sex. "Conversion therapy" does not mean:
a. counseling or mental health services that provide acceptance, support and understanding of a person without seeking to change sexual orientation or gender identity, or
b. mental health services that facilitate a person's coping, social support, or sexual orientation or gender identity exploration and development, including, but not limited to, an intervention to prevent or address unlawful conduct or unsafe sexual practices, without seeking to change sexual orientation or gender identity;
2. "Gender identity" means the gender-related identity, appearance, mannerisms, or other gender-related characteristics of an individual, regardless of the individual's designated sex at birth; and
3. "Sexual orientation" means heterosexuality, homosexuality or bisexuality, whether actual or perceived.

The bill states that "No provider, as defined in Section 725.2 of Title 59 of the Oklahoma Statutes, shall provide conversion therapy to any person under eighteen (18) years of age, or to a consumer, regardless of age, for whom a conservator or guardian has been appointed," and that violation of the act "shall be grounds for disciplinary action by the provider's licensing board."

State Rep. Randy Randleman, a Licensed Psychologist in the Eufaula area, argued against the measure. It passed committee by a vote of 10-4:

• Forrest Bennett (D-OKC): Aye
• Jeff Boatman (R-Tulsa): Aye
• Chairwoman Carol Bush (R-Tulsa): Aye
• Rep. Darrel Fincher (R-Bartlesville): Aye
• Ronny Johns (R-Ada): Aye
• Dell Kerbs (R-Shawnee): Aye
• Cyndi Munson (D-OKC): Aye
• Melissa Provenzano (D-Tulsa): Aye
• Trish Ranson (D-Stillwater): Aye
• Cynthia Roe (R-Lindsay): Aye
  
• Mark Lawson (R-Sapulpa): Nay
• Nicole Miller (R-Edmond): Nay
• Randy Randleman (R-Eufaula): Nay
• Vice Chairman John Talley (R-Stillwater): Nay

Utah passed a similar ban in 2019, which is being pushed as a model for other states, particularly in Republican-led states. However, the Utah bill is much more narrow in scope, and contains exemptions for "a clergy member or religious counselor who is acting substantially in a pastoral or religious capacity and not in the capacity of a mental health therapist", as well as for "a parent or grandparent who is a mental health therapist with respect to counseling a child or grandchild of the parent or grandparent."

Dr. Albert Mohler of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary discussed the Utah situation on his The Briefing podcast several weeks ago. The Dunnington bill follows the very expansive definition of conversion therapy promoted by LGBT advocacy organizations such as GLAAD. The Utah legislation follows a more narrow definition, focusing the ban on treatments that:

"claims that therapy will result in a complete and permanent reversal in the patient/client's sexual orientation; asserts that a complete and permanent change in the patient or client's sexual orientation is necessary; subjects a patient or client to physical discomfort through aversive treatment that causes nausea, vomiting, or other unpleasant physical sensations; or provides electric shock or other electrical therapy, including electroconvulsive therapy or transcranial magnet stimulation." [source]

The audio of the meeting can be heard at this link, beginning at 3:29:05. The text of the bill can be read here.

Democrat State Rep files bill to end Oklahoma's death penalty

Dunnington Legislation Looks to End Oklahoma’s Death Penalty

OKLAHOMA CITY – State Rep. Jason Dunnington (D-Oklahoma City) on Tuesday filed House Bill 2876 for consideration during the 2020 legislative session. If passed and signed into law, the measure will remove the death penalty from among the options in Oklahoma for sentencing in capital cases.

“I’m proud to be a part of the important progress we’ve made toward criminal justice reform,” Dunnington said. “Oklahomans are becoming more aware of the wasted costs of capital punishment, a system that provides no deterrent to crime while flushing millions down the drain that could be better spent on responses to violence that actually work.”

Dunnington’s legislation found support from The Most Rev. Paul S. Coakley, Archbishop of Oklahoma City.

“This is a bold proposal that addresses the disturbing realities and inequity of capital punishment,” Coakley said. “We don't end the cycle of violence by committing more violence. In all of these crimes, we lost a life, and the death penalty only serves to further devalue human dignity. When available, we should choose non-lethal ways to ensure justice and protect society.”

“This is neither a partisan nor an ideological proposal,” Dunnington said. “The profound problems with the death penalty are a concern for all Oklahomans, indeed for all Americans. That is why Republicans and Democrats from Alabama to Oregon are increasingly embracing the call for a repeal of the death penalty.”

Dunnington detailed the primary objections to continued use of the death penalty:

• For every 10 inmates executed on death row in the US since 1976, one inmate has been exonerated;
• The taxpayer cost of incarceration for death row inmates is more than twice that of inmates with life sentences;
•  There is no evidence to support that use of the death penalty is an effective crime deterrent;
•  Families of victims routinely testify that executing the convicted offers little consolation for their pain and loss.

The measure will be assigned for a committee hearing in February.

Echols and Dunnington Coauthor Bill to Make SQ 780 Retroactive

Echols and Dunnington Coauthor Bill to Make SQ 780 Retroactive

OKLAHOMA CITY – Majority Leader Jon Echols, R-Oklahoma City, and State. Rep. Jason Dunnington, D-Oklahoma City, filed legislation today that would make State Question 780 retroactive.

House Bill 1269 would provide post-conviction relief to Oklahomans whose convictions took place prior to State Question 780 passing but would have been affected had SQ780 been in place.

“It is time for Oklahoma to get out of the business of arresting and prosecuting individuals afflicted by drug addiction,” Dunnington said. “We have Oklahomans that are labeled as felons, and their crimes would be legal or a much lesser crime today. These folks are disenfranchised, and their families are suffering. This legislation seeks to heal these wounds and continue Oklahoma down the road of responsible criminal justice reform.”

Dunnington and Echols, who have worked together on bipartisan legislation in the past, see this bill as a chance for lawmakers to come together and do what is best for Oklahoma.

“The people of Oklahoma have spoken loud and clear on the issue of criminal justice reform,” Echols said. “I look forward to working with members of both parties to find not Democratic or Republican solutions, but Oklahoma solutions to the issues facing this state. This bill will be a great step in that direction.”

Minority Leader Issues Statement in Support of HB1269

OKLAHOMA CITY – House Minority Leader Emily Virgin, D-Norman, released the following statement today in support of House Bill 1269 – legislation that would make State Question 780 retroactive:

“I commend and applaud Majority Leader Jon Echols and Representative Jason Dunnington for their leadership on this important issue,” Virgin said. “Our criminal justice system should reform lives not ruin them. This legislation gives new hope to Oklahomans whose lives have been destroyed for crimes that would be a misdemeanor today.

“I am proud to support this legislation, and I encourage the Speaker, leadership in the Senate and the Governor to stand with the hundreds of thousands of Oklahomans demanding we act on criminal justice reform. Passing this bipartisan legislation at the beginning of session would be a great signal to all of Oklahoma that this government is ready to come together to meet Oklahoma’s problems.”