According to the proposal, which cites research from 12 different medical, counseling, health and psychology organizations, conversion therapy has been found to be largely ineffective and also “creates a potential risk of serious harm to those who experience it.”

According to the American Psychological Association Task Force on Appropriate Therapeutic Responses to Sexual Orientation, conversion therapy has been linked to patients developing symptoms of depression, suicidal thoughts or actions, and substance abuse.

“This is not therapy. It is abuse,” 13th District Alderman Natalia Taft said before asking to become of the proposal’s co-sponsors.

Racine’s proposed ordinance would only outlaw conversion therapy for those under 18 years of age, since LGBT youth are sometimes forced to go to conversion therapy by adults. If an adult chooses to enter conversion therapy (also referred to as reparative therapy), they would still be able to do so.

“What we’re trying to do through this ban is protect those young people from somebody who is trying to misguide them, to make them into somebody who they aren’t,” said Barbara Farrar, the executive director of the LGBT Center of SE Wisconsin.