If Columbia Can Be Bullied, No South Carolina City Is Safe From Coercion

If Columbia can be bullied, no South Carolina city is safe from coercion

Columbia City Council faces backlash for moving to repeal South Carolina’s only conversion therapy ban, raising concerns for LGBTQ rights and home rule.

South Carolina city caves to Republican attorney general's demands to lift ban on conversion therapy

The state's Republican Attorney General pressured the city into withdrawing an ordinance on the books since 2021 that bans conversion therapy for minors.

Columbia repeals ban on so-called conversion therapy, ensuring no loss of state aid

Columbia City Council voted 4-3 on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, to repeal the city's ban on so-called conversion therapy of minors. (Screenshot of livestreamed meeting)COLUMBIA — Columbia no longer bans so-called conversion therapy for minors following City Council’s second 4-3 vote Tuesday to repeal the 4-year-old rule. The repeated split vote — exactly one week after the first one — came without debate, despite residents’ pleas over roughly an hour…

After Columbia repeals conversion therapy ban, LGBTQ+ activists plan to 'turn anger into action'

Columbia repealed its 2021 ordinance banning the practice of conversion therapy on LGBTQ+ minors in the face of state pressure. Activists had shown up in droves urging officials not to repeal the ban. Here's what they plan next.

Columbia city council votes 4 to 3 to repeal conversion therapy ban for minros

In a four to three vote Tuesday, Columbia city council officially repealed its ban on conversion therapy for minors. Here's who voted for and against.

Columbia City Council approves first reading to repeal conversion therapy ban for minors