Waterloo, Iowa was in the news this week after the City Council there voted to repeal a ban on what’s known as LGBTQ conversion therapy. The ban had been introduced in May but was facing the threat of a court challenge. A Florida organization called the Liberty Counsel had been threatening to take the city to court on behalf of a therapist who claimed that the ban infringed on their right to free speech and to practice therapeutic treatments. Similar challenges are underway around the country. The Associated Press predictably describes this type of therapy as being homophobic, and multiple courts around the country have previously taken a similar view.

One of Iowa’s largest cities repealed its ban on “conversion therapy” — the discredited practice of trying to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity through counseling — after a Christian organization threatened legal action, part of a deepening national movement to challenge protections for LGBTQ+ kids.

The city council in Waterloo voted this week to remove its restrictions after Liberty Counsel warned in a letter June 30 that it would “take further action” if the city did not repeal the ordinance by August 1. It was enacted in May.

The organization, which is based in Orlando, Florida, argued the ordinance infringes on the constitutional right to free speech and acted on behalf of a therapist in Waterloo “who was concerned about the implications of this on the practice of counseling,” Mat Staver, Liberty Counsel founder and chair, said in an interview in which he promised further litigation targeting states.

In the case of Waterloo, the decision should clearly remain up to the resident’s elected representatives. While such bans are not generally considered to be illegal, they are also not mandatory. The Supreme Court rejected a challenge to such bans back in 2017 and they haven’t taken up a similar case since.

Personally, I’ve never seen a reason to completely ban this type of therapy as long as it isn’t being forced on anyone. Of course, it seems like it’s a mostly fruitless effort in most cases. Some people are simply gay, lesbian, or bisexual by nature. Gay people have been around for all of recorded history, though most organized religions have forbidden homosexual acts at one time or another and some still do.

But as far as the therapy goes, if a person honestly believes that their gay or lesbian impulses are a problem and they want to “change,” they should be free to try. And if any therapists wish to offer that service, what’s the harm?

Of course, we’re only talking about the “LGB” portion of the LGBTQ+ spectrum here. The treatment of people suffering from gender dysphoria should not be looked at as “conversion therapy.” That’s simply mental healthcare. If leftist groups start trying to ban that we’re going to have a serious problem.

But returning to the idea of gay conversion, does it ever actually work? One report from Cornell looked at thirteen peer-reviewed studies on this question and whether or not such therapy could result in harm. Twelve of the thirteen studies concluded that this therapy was either ineffective or caused harm, finding links to depression, suicidality, anxiety, social isolation, and decreased capacity for intimacy. Only one of the studies found that conversion therapy could be successful and helpful, but even then it was seen in only a very small minority of subjects.

Take those results as you wish. As I already said, it seems like it would be a rather fruitless effort for most people. But if someone really wants to make the effort they should at least have the opportunity to do so.