To the editor:

On Feb. 20, the Minnesota House of Representatives passed HF 16 which seeks to ban conversion therapy in our state. Conversion therapy is a practice that tries to change a patient’s gender or sexual orientation. This barbaric practice is banned in several countries around the world.

Every leading medical and scientific association including the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics have strongly and uniformly rejected conversion therapy for minors, citing its harmful effects on the long-term mental health of LGBTQ+ youth.

Shockingly, Rep. Chris Swedzinski voted against this bill. Think about that for a second. Chris Swedzinski thinks it is acceptable for a therapist to try and change someone’s gender or sexual orientation. Wow.

There has to be a better representative for us than this guy.

Ben Walker

Marshall