What will this bill do?

• Reinstate the rights of social workers and their clients to pursue a counseling plan that aligns with heterosexuality or the individual's biological sex.

• Require social workers to disclose to the individual being treated, or that individual's parent or guardian, the nature of the treatment or practices

• Require social worker to receive authorization from the individual being treated, or that individual's parent or guardian, to engage in the practices or treatments.

Why is this bill needed?

• On June 8th, 2021, North Dakota lawmakers approved a new ethical standard prohibiting social workers from practicing so-called conversion therapy. The new rule states that " it is an ethical violation for a social worker licensed by the board to engage in any practices or treatments that attempt to change or repair the sexual orientation or gender identity of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning individuals.”

• The current rule is a violation of ethics in and of itself.

  • It denies individuals the right to seek professional treatment that lines up with their religious beliefs.

  • It discriminates against counselors who seek to help patients reconcile with their biological sex and allows only gender-affirming counseling that supports chemical and surgical transition.

  • It denies the experience and very existence of detransitioners and ex-gays.

  • It overlooks the fact that 88% to 98% of gender dysphoric children will accept their biological sex after going through puberty, according to the fifth edition of the American Psychiatric Association’s “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.”

  • It actually promotes the most unethical ‘conversion therapy’ that exists: attempting to ‘convert’ a male to a female or vice versa.

Click here for complete information on HB 1430, including updates, hearings, and testimony submission.

• Hearing was held on March 11th in the Senate Human Services Committee.

• Contact members of the committee and ask for a ‘do pass’ recommendation. Before you do, click here to make sure a recommendation has not already been given.

• Contact your district senator and ask them to vote yes on HB 1430.