By DAN FAGAN
Three Anchorage Assembly members introduced an ordinance Tuesday that would make it illegal for counselors to help teenagers seeking to overcome unwanted same-sex attractions or gender identity confusion issues.
The ordinance would use the full force of government to require all counselors to endorse the gay lifestyle and transgenderism when dealing with minors. Assembly Chair, Felix Rivera, Austin Quinn-Davidson, and Christopher Constant introduced the ordinance. All three do not have children and all are openly gay.
“Contemporary science recognizes that being lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender is part of the natural spectrum of human identity and is not a disease, disorder, or illness,” the ordinance reads in part.
The ordinance endorsing homosexuality and transgenderism may not sit well with traditionalists that typically evaluate such matters based on the teachings of their faith. Many Christians view homosexuality as an unhealthy distortion of God’s original design. They see the practice as self-destructive leading to a life of unhappiness. They believe homosexuality is a counterfeit of God’s purpose for sex which they view as best practiced between a man and a woman living together under the marriage covenant.
Scriptures are clear on homosexuality. The Bible describes those who practice gay sex as depraved, detestable, inflamed with lust, and haters of God.
The Christian worldview on homosexuality has steadily lost favor with many Americans through the years, especially among the young. Typically, pastors and clergy are fearful of taking on the topic from the pulpit worried they’ll lose parishioners.
Pew Research found 60% opposed same-sex marriage while 31% favored it in 2004. But a 2019 Pew poll showed the numbers flipped with 61% now favoring same-sex marriage.
It’s no secret we are in the midst of an intense culture war between those who favor traditional family values and those who loath them and in the case of Tuesday’s Assembly ordinance, want to make some of them illegal.
The Marxist social justice warriors backed by a mostly leftist media are taking advantage of the changing attitudes to legislate away family values traditionalists hold dear. One of the biggest differences between the two factions is traditionalists don’t seek to advance their agenda through changing laws. No one is calling for making illegal the practice of homosexuality.
But Tuesday’s Assembly ordinance would make it illegal for counselors, even some that work for churches, from discouraging teens from changing their gender or practicing gay sex.
“The Anchorage Assembly desires to protect minors within the Municipality from harmful and discredited approaches to change sexual orientation or gender identity with minors, including so-called “conversion” or “reparative” therapy,” reads the ordinance.
The municipality would fine counselors $500 for each day they violate the ordinance. The ordinance also opens the door for lawyers to step in and make money by targeting counselors.
“Any person aggrieved, harmed, injured, or suffering loss or damage” could be eligible for injunctive relief.
This provision will allow lawyers to seek out faith-based counselors refusing to endorse sex changes and gay sex and take them to court for damages. Much like attorneys have targeted cake makers and wedding photographers for not participating in gay weddings.
Social justice warriors like Rivera, Quinn-Davidson and Constant are savvy enough to advance their radical agenda only up to the point it won’t cost them their power.
The website, The Alaska Watchman reports Constant told an LBGT news site he was waiting until after the April election to introduce Tuesday’s ordinance “because his fellow gay Assembly members Rivera and Quinn-Davidson were up for reelection.”
Imagine what social justice warriors like Constant, Rivera and Quinn-Davidson would propose if they thought they could get away with it politically.
Dan Fagan hosts a radio show on Newsradio 650 KENI from 5:40 to 8 A.M.
