On Friday, June 27, 2014 the Washington, D.C. City Council will hold a committee hearing to consider legislation to ban therapy for minors who seek to overcome unwanted same-sex attractions. If you are in the Washington, D.C. area and wish to testify, please contact Christopher Doyle at cdoyle@voiceofthevoiceless.info.

Your intent to testify must be e-mailed by Wednesday, June 25! Those who wish to testify should contact Rayna Smith, Committee Director to the Committee on Health, at 202-741-2111 or via e-mail at rsmith@dccouncil.us, and provide their name, address, telephone number, organizational affiliation and title (if any) by close of business on Wednesday, June 25, 2014.

Persons wishing to testify are encouraged, but not required, to submit 15 copies of written testimony. If submitted by the close of business on Wednesday, June 25, 2014, the testimony will be distributed to Councilmembers before the hearing. Witnesses should limit their testimony to four minutes; less time will be allowed if there are a large number of witnesses.

The committee hearing will be held:

John A.Wilson Building, 1350

Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Room 115,

Washington, D.C., 20004

--> Committee hearing begins at 12:00pm

--> Press Conference in front of the City Council Building to follow the committee hearing (most likely between 2:00 - 3:00pm) . For all those who wish to join us, please e-mail: cdoyle@voiceofthevoiceless.info

Bill 20-501 would prohibit a licensed mental health practitioner in Washington, D.C. from offering counseling or psychotherapy to a minor that has unwanted same-sex attractions and seeks to change his/her homosexual orientation. It would also take away the rights of parents to choose a licensed mental health care provider for their children that is consistent with their religious and/or spiritual values, if their child wants to overcome unwanted same-sex attractions and seek sexual orientation change.

Dear Council member,

Bill 20-501 would take away the rights of minors to receive counseling for unwanted same-sex attractions, even if those attractions resulted from sexual abuse or molestation from a sexual predator.

This bill would also take away the rights of parents to choose a licensed mental health provider that aligns with their family’s religious and spiritual values on the issue of homosexuality.

The freedom to exercise religion is embedded in the Constitution of the United States, and as citizens, we have the right to seek out medical and mental health care that is consistent with our religious and spiritual values.

Taking away the rights of our family and children to seek out counseling from highly trained licensed mental health providers who specialize in counseling for unwanted same-sex attractions is governmental intrusion into our families.

Please vote “NO” for Bill 20-501 and respect the rights of parents to make the proper decisions for their children’s mental health! We know what is best for our children, not the government!

Sincerely,