Pittsburgh Mayor to Sign Conversion Therapy Ban For Minors

The Pittsburgh City Council has unanimously voted to ban mental health professionals in the city from using on minors a therapy that attempts to change sexual orientation or how people identify their gender.

City spokesman Timothy McNulty tells the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that Mayor Bill Peduto plans to sign the legislation.

Numerous medical and psychiatric groups oppose use of the "conversion therapy." Councilman Dan Gilman says some residents advocated Tuesday's council action due to concerns about Republican Vice President-elect Mike Pence's views on the practice.

A Pence spokesman denies that the vice president-elect supports conversion therapy, but during a 2000 congressional campaign he advocated for institutions that help individuals who want to change their sexual behavior.