LANSING — Last week state Rep. Adam Zemke (D-Ann Arbor) introduced House Bill 5550 — a bill that would prohibit the use of Conversion Therapy by mental health professionals and engaged in efforts to change the sexual orientation and gender identity of a minor. House Bill 5550 was offered in response to the “Unashamed Identity Workshop” hosted by Metro City Church, which has locations in both Riverview and Taylor. The several-week-long workshop is at the Riverview location and provided by FORGE Ministries. In response, state Rep. Erika Geiss (D-Taylor), issued the following statement:
“The practice of ‘Conversion therapy,’ has been shown to be ineffective by multiple experts in multiple respected fields. Promotion of it, whether for free or for tuition as at this workshop, is harmful to our state, our families and most importantly, to our kids. We should not be sending them this message. I was deeply concerned when I learned that this workshop is being offered.
“If Metro City Church is truly interested in providing counselling or ministry to kids in our community, there are more appropriate materials that do not focus on shame and deviance like those that are available from the American Psychological Association and other national education, health, mental health and religious organizations. I stand in solidarity with my colleagues who offered this legislation, and I hope that others will join me.”