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Home My WebLink About2017-02-07 Proclamationi City of Iowa City PROCLAMATION Whereas, much of the history of Iowa City's honor, strength and stature can be attributed to the diversity of cultures and traditions that are celebrated by the residents of this great community; and Whereas, African Americans have played significant roles in the history of Iowa City and the state of Iowa's economic, cultural, spiritual and political development while working tirelessly to maintain and promote their culture and history; and Whereas, Black History Month was formally adopted to honor and affirm the importance of Black History throughout our American experience; and Whereas, during Black History Month all are encouraged to reflect on past successes and challenges of African Americans and look to the future to continue to improve society so that we live up to the ideals of freedom, equality and justice. Now, Therefore, I, James A. Throgmorton, Mayor of Iowa City, do hereby proclaim the month of February 2017 to be BLACKHIS TOR YMONTH and urge all public officials, educators and members of the community to observe this month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities. 1 Mayor Signed in Iowa City, Iowa, this 7a` day of February, 2017 City of Iowa City PROCLAMATION Iter s, much of the history of Iowa City's honor, strength and turc can be be. uted to the diversity of cultures and traditions that ar celebrated b e residents of this great community; and Whereas, Afiic Americans have played significant r es in the history of Iowa City and the state of Iowa economic, cultural, spiritual an olitical development while working tirelessly to ma fain and promote their cul and history; and Whereas, Black History M th was importance of Black History thrdughm Whereas, during Black History Mi and challenges of African Americans society so that we live up to the ideal to honor and affirm the our ,)&erican experience; and are encouraged to reflect on past successes ik to the future to continue to improve ;door, equality and justice. Now, Therefore, I, James A/rhrogmorton, ayor of Iowa City, do hereby proclaim the month February 2017 to BL CK HIS TOR Y NTH and urge all publico cials, educators and members of the comm 'ty to observe this month with approp ' to programs, ceremonies, and activities. Mayor Signed in Iowa City, Iowa, this 7`h day of February, 2017 City of Iowa City PROCLAMATION Whereas, conversion therapy is a range of dangerous and discredited practices that falsely claim to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity or expression that is also referred to as reparative therapy, ex -gay therapy, and sexual orientation change efforts; and Whereas, conversion therapy includes the practice of psychologically and physically abusive techniques that include and have included, but are not limited to: counseling, visualization, social skills training, psychoanalytic therapy, spiritual interventions, electroshock therapy, aversive treatments, masturbatory reconditioning, and lobotomies; and Whereas, the practice of conversion therapy is harmful to those who are subjected to it by putting these individuals at increased risk for depression, anxiety, other mental health disorders, homelessness, drug abuse, self -harm, and suicide; and Whereas, the practice of conversion therapy is administered to as many as one in three LGBTQ people, often while they are minors or young adults and under force or with intense pressure; and Whereas, the practice of conversion therapy is unscientific in that it has been rejected by organizations such as the American Medical Association, American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, American College of Physicians, and World Psychiatric Association; and Whereas, the practice of conversion therapy contributes to the continuing discrimination, stigmatization, and societal bias against LGBTQ+ people; and Whereas, the Obama administration has expressed support of state efforts to ban the practice of conversion therapy; and Whereas, the Iowa Board of Medicine and Iowa Board of Psychology voted against banning conversion despite a petition from the State of Iowa Youth Advisory Council on April 8, 2016, and August 12, 2016, respectively, and have deemed that banning the practice of conversion therapy is the responsibility of the Iowa Legislature; and Whereas, the Iowa Legislature has previously failed to protect LGBTQ+ Iowans from the dangers of the practice of conversion therapy by allowing the bill to die without coming to a vote in the Iowa House of Representatives after being passed in the Iowa Senate by a vote of 26-24 on March 17, 2015. NOW, therefore, we, the City Council of Iowa City, Iowa, do hereby proclaim that CONVERSION THERAPY is a dangerous, harmful, unscientific, and illegitimate practice that should be discouraged, denounced, and abandoned as a means of changing a person's sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, and that we, as a community, welcome individualrdless of theirs xual ider identity or expression. TN*or _ Signed in Iowa City, Iowa this 7th day of February, 2017 City of Iowa City 3a PROCLAMATION Whereas, conversion therapy is a range of dangerous and discredited practices that falsely claim to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity or expression that is also referred to as reparative therapy, ex -gay therapy, and sexual orientation change efforts; and Whereas, conT�rsion therapy includes the practice of psychologically and physically abusive t niques that include and hake included, but are not limited to: counseling, visualization, social skills tr ing, psychoanalytic thera0y, spiritual interventions, electroshock therapy, aversive treatments asturbatory reconditioning, and lobotomies; and Whereas, the practice conversion therapy is harmful to those who are sub'ted to it by putting these individuals at increased risk or depression, anxiety, other mental health di so ers, homelessness, drug abuse, self -harm, and suicide and Whereas, the practice of conv sion therapy is administered to as rpany as one in three LGBTQ people, often while they are minors or you adults and under force or with ' tense pressure; and Whereas, the practice of conversion herapy is unscientific i hat it has been rejected by organizations such as the American Medical Associati , American Psychi ric Association, American Psychological Association, American Academy of Pediat ' s, American A ociation for Marriage and Family Therapy, American College of Physicians, and World sychiatric sociation; and Whereas, the practice of conversion therapy ntn tes to the continuing discrimination, stigmatization, and societal bias against LGBTQ+ people; and Whereas, the Obama administration has expr�sseX Support of state efforts to ban the practice of conversion therapy; and \ Whereas, the Iowa Board of Medicine a#8 Iowa Board Psychology voted against banning conversion despite a petition from the State of Iowa outh Advisory Co cil on April 8, 2016, and August 12, 2016, respectively, and have deemed that ba #ing the practice of cversion therapy is the responsibility of the Iowa Legislature; and Whereas, the Iowa Legislaturep as previously failed to protect L Q+ Iowans from the dangers of the practice of conversion therapy by allowing the bill to die without com g to a vote in the Iowa House of Representatives after being p4gsed in the Iowa Senate by a vote of 21k-24 on March 17, 2015. NOW, therefore, we, thq'City Council of Iowa City, Iowa, do hereby pigclaim that CONVERSION THE is a dangerous, harmful, unscientific, and illegitimate practice that should be discouraged, de ounced, and abandoned as a means of changing a person's sexua identity or expression, and that we, as a community, welcome individuals regardless ^ ^^•^• ^^ ^ fender identity or expression. Mayor ition or gender sexual Signed in Iowa City, Iowa this 7th day of February, 2017