The Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty (WILL) is representing Joy Buchman, a licensed mental health professional and owner of Kinsman Redeemer Counseling Center, LLC (“Kinsman”), in a federal lawsuit filed against the City of La Crosse.

Last year, the City passed a ban on so-called “conversion therapy” for minors. The intentionally misnamed “conversion therapy” is just the practice of providing counseling to help individuals with same-sex attraction or gender confusion reorient with their God-given sexuality. The left is taking aim at this practice as it stands in the way of gender ideology continuing to spread throughout health care in the U.S.

The lawsuit filed by WILL alleges the resolution prevents Ms. Buchman from counseling in a manner consistent with her professional and religious views, especially when counseling regarding sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity, and thus violates her First Amendment rights.

The ordinance requires counselors to either affirm any minor patient’s new gender “identity” or remain silent on the issue if a patient is struggling with his or her gender “identity,” forcing mental health professionals to choose between violating their religious convictions or facing professional and financial ruin. The lawsuit urges the court to rule that the City has no authority to restrict speech it dislikes.

Banning counseling efforts to guide a patient through struggles with their sexual orientation is a direct violation of free speech, freedom of religion, and patients’ freedom to seek the treatment they want. It also threatens parents’ rights to direct the mental health care and education of their children.

Please pray that the Western District of Wisconsin rules in favor of Joy Buchman and protects the right of all mental health professionals to offer services in accordance with their deeply held beliefs and in the best interest of their clients.