Columbia, SC (WOLO) — Dozens of faith leaders, lawmakers and civil rights organizations descended on City Hall Tuesday night calling on City officials to stand up for LGBTQ+ youth in the state of South Carolina. City leaders were expected to vote on a ban against “Conversion Therapy’ that was put in place in the Capital city back in 2021 being one of the first city in the Palmetto state to inhibit the practice.

According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) reports that 23 states have puts bans in place to keep minors from being subjected to what the organization describes as a “harmful practice” used to force a change to a person’s sexual orientation and or gender in order to persuade someone who is homosexual to become heterosexual.

Since the law was implemented more than 4 years ago several politicians have been vocal in their opposition. Including Attorney General Wilson, who in April of this year sent a letter to Council members calling on them to repeal the ban citing it conflicted with state law and was unconstitutional. At the time, Mayor Daniel Rickenmann questioned the timing of the request.

Attorney General’s Office released a letter stating the ban not only is in conflict with state law, but also goes against the Medical Ethics and Diversity Act that was passed by the General Assembly back n 2022. Wilson adding that “individual municipalities do not have the authority to regulate professions that require statewide uniformity”. Attorney General Alan Wilson ending the letter with a request to hear from City Council by May 5, 2025 and expressed his willingness to meet with members to “resolve the matter”.

Tuesday after discussing the issue during the City Council meeting the issue was deferred to a meeting to be determined after they have more time to put Columbia’s budget in place.