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

[Richard Longstreth]

I vote nay.

Richard Longstreth
Region 1 Representative (AK, AZ, CO, HI, KS, MT, NM, OR, UT, WA, WY)
Libertarian National Committee
richard.longstreth at lp.org
931.538.9300

Sent from my Mobile Device

On Fri, Apr 26, 2019, 12:32 James Lark via Lnc-business <
lnc-business at hq.lp.org> wrote:

> 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
> -----
>
> 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.
> >
>
>