[Lnc-business] BALLOT 190423-1 Resolution in Opposition to Conversion Therapy (Alt Language)

[James Lark]

Dear colleagues:

     I hope all is well with you.  I am writing in my capacity as Region 
5 representative to abstain 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 4/23/2019 5:38 AM, Caryn Ann Harlos via Lnc-business wrote:
> We have an electronic mail ballot.
>
> Votes are due to the LNC-Business list by April 30, 2019 at 11:59:59 pm
> Pacific time.
>
> Co-Sponsors:  Bishop-Henchman, Harlos, Longstreth, Merced, 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 its 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", which in any other
> area are considered torture or cruel and unusual punishment; 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
> the Libertarian Party opposes so-called conversion therapy as fraudulent
> and abusive, and opposes its protection or funding by federal or state
> governments; 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/ballot190423-1.  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.
>