[Lnc-business] EMAIL BALLOT 190419-1 Opposition to Conversion Therapy Resolution

[James Lark]

Dear colleagues:

     I hope all is well with you.  I am writing in my capacity as Region 
5 representative to vote "nay" on the motion.

     As always, thanks for your work for liberty.

     Take care,
     Jim

     James W. Lark, III
     Professor, Dept. of Engineering Systems and Environment
     Professor, Applied Mathematics Program, Dept. of Engineering and 
Society
     Affiliated Faculty, Department of Statistics
     University of Virginia

     Advisor, The Liberty Coalition
     University of Virginia

     Region 5 Representative, Libertarian National Committee
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On 4/19/2019 11:12 AM, Caryn Ann Harlos via Lnc-business wrote:
> We have an electronic mail ballot.
>
> Votes are due to the LNC-Business list by April 26, 2019 at 11:59:59 pm
> Pacific time.
>
> Co-Sponsors:  Harlos, Longstreth, Merced, O'Donnell, Phillips
>
>
> =============================================
>
> Resolution:
>
> WHEREAS, the Libertarian Party asserts that all individuals have the right
> to exercise sole dominion over their own lives, and have the right to live
> in whatever manner they choose, so long as they do not forcibly interfere
> with the equal right of others to live in whatever manner they choose;
>
> WHEREAS, although children have not reached sufficient maturity to be the
> full custodian of their rights which are temporarily entrusted to their
> parents or guardians, their rights to bodily integrity and intimate
> personal identification, are inalienable and coerced action that would
> fundamentally deny these rights is abusive;
>
> WHEREAS, parents, or other guardians, have the right to raise
> their children according to their own standards and beliefs, provided that
> the rights of children to be free from abuse and neglect are also protected;
>
> WHEREAS, conversion therapy has been used in the past as a form of
> punishment for homosexuality and gender identity which does not conform to
> traditional expectations; and the rights to gender and sexual identity are
> fundamental rights;
>
> WHEREAS, this conversion therapy has it's roots in unethical treatment used
> since the 70's in issues such as drug use, psychiatric disorders, and
> learning disabilities, that describe humiliation, sleep deprivation, sexual
> abuse, starvation, and isolation as "treatment techniques";
>
> WHEREAS, children are often subjected to this type of therapy against their
> will, even by loving and well-intentioned parents who are unaware that the
> methods used in conversion therapy are extremely forceful and abusive, and
> that any therapy similar to this has been shown to result in
> suicide attempts by 20% of these patients: a five-fold increase in the risk
> of suicide attempts compared to other teens;
>
> THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that therapy modeled off these abusive
> institutions, protected and/or funded by the State, constitutes consumer
> fraud and forceful abuse, which the Libertarian Party opposes, and we
> oppose all laws allowing such.
>
> FURTHER, BE IT RESOLVED, the Libertarian Party opposes subjecting unwilling
> participants through force or coercion, especially children, to any therapy
> that violates the non-aggression principle through any method that would be
> considered abuse or torture.
>
> =============================================
>
> You can keep track of the Secretary's manual tally of votes here:
> https://tinyurl.com/190419-1.  Votes are noted with a link to the actual
> ballot cast for verification. You can find the time that the manual tally
> was last updated at the bottom of the sheet.
>
> Please notify me of any discrepancies.
>