New vote on conversion therapy expected by La Crosse city council

Some La Crosse residents say the city council made a mistake last month that needs to be corrected, and they’re hoping that correction comes Thursday night. 

A group called the Save Your Rights Coalition of La Crosse is urging the council to reverse its June vote to ban conversion therapy in the city. 

The ban passed narrowly, on a 6-to-4 vote, and supporters of conversion therapy have called for reconsideration, saying city leaders are out of touch with La Crosse’s population.  Critics of conversion therapy say the practice is aimed at getting people who identify as gay or transgender, especially minor children, to go straight.

Last month’s vote led to a protest outside City Hall as an effort to get Mayor Mitch Reynolds to veto the ban. The mayor said he had already signed the ordinance the day before.

The group supporting the therapy says the ban took away the basic rights of La Crosse residents on how to counsel children.