A harmful practice that has plagued the LGBT community for decades is conversion therapy. Beginning in the 1920’s, this “therapy” uses electric shock and nausea-inducing drugs in an attempt to change one’s sexual orientation. It was originally created in 1899 by Albert Von Schrenck-Notzing. According to Erin Blakemore, “in some cases, people were psychologically and even sexually abused. Others committed suicide after ‘treatment.’ Meanwhile, evidence that any of the techniques were effective remained nonexistent.”

Homophobia has caused deep psychological issues and the death of LGBT people for centuries. According to Tia Ghose, “what’s more, research suggests the treatment can worsen feelings of self-hatred and anxiety because it encourages people to fight or hate a sexual orientation that can’t be changed.” It’s an unethical practice that doesn’t even work and it has caused major setbacks in the acceptance of the LGBT movement. It takes years, and even entire lifetimes, to heal from the trauma that conversion therapy causes.

According to the American Academy for Pediatrics, “referral for ‘conversion’ or ‘reparative therapy’ is never indicated; therapy is not effective and may be harmful to LGBTQ individuals by increasing internalized stigma, distress, and depression.”

Although it is an extremely outdated practice, it was only outlawed for minors in California in 2013. However, conversion therapy is still legal in 37 states. Blatant homophobia and bigotry have cost the lives of LGBTQ people for decades. This hatefulness towards undeserving people has been included as a part of Corona for seventeen years and is now running for Corona City council.

Jeremy Mercer is one of three pastors running in the 2018 Corona City Council election. Running alongside pastors Randy Fox and Shawn Kelly, they argue that Corona is involved in a “spiritual battle” and are advocating for a holier Corona. According to the Los Angeles Times, “Mercer has said he was motivated to run in part by a proposed state law to curtail paid ‘conversion therapy,’ which claims to change a person’s sexual orientation.” Someone who is motivated to run by a matter that does not involve city politics is harmful to Corona and its citizens. Additionally, running in an election to harm people that are doing nothing but loving the same gender is farcical.

Mercer has also stated that “I know so many who are former homosexuals who have been forgiven by God, been set free by the power of the gospel.” It is ignorant to plead that someone cannot be LGBT and religious, and that to follow the word of God you must be straight. According to Curtis M. Wong, “the report also estimates that 20,000 LGBTQ youths currently between the ages of 13 and 17 will be subjected to conversion therapy from a licensed health care professional before they turn 18. An additional 57,000 will be subjected to the controversial practice from a religious or spiritual adviser before age 18.” Most people that are subjected to conversion therapy are minors, put in by their parents to make their child straight; therefore, it is ignorant to say that people partaking in this practice are choosing these harsh treatments. According to the Human Rights Campaign, LGBT adolescents that were rejected by their families for their identity are eight times more likely to have attempted suicide than their straight peers. Furthermore, Mercer’s lack of research on the effects of conversion therapy is concerning. Conversion therapy is not an issue that the Corona city council should focus on.

Other candidates are focusing on more pressing issues, like traffic. Most citizens’ concerns are about the rising commute time on the 91 freeway, and how council members are going to propose a solution. However, Mercer ignores one of the most prominent issues is Corona city politics, and instead focuses on issues that do not involve him.

Corona is not in a “spiritual battle”. The city is in need of a solution for the egregious commute with traffic – not to discriminate against people of other sexualities, races, and religions. As Fauzia Rizvi, a District 4 candidate, stated “This race [has] nothing to do with race or religion. Traffic is the biggest issue.” If candidates like Mercer continue to debate whether people should get basic rights or not, no improvements will be implemented in the city. Topics like conversion therapy should not be discussed in city politics, simply because they do not belong there. Furthermore, debating people’s lives should not be a political topic. Church and state are supposed to be separate.

Impacting people’s lives in a catastrophic way should not be a topic for city politics, let alone be a motivator for someone’s campaign. If we as Corona citizens continue to let bigotry run our government, no improvements will ever be made on the topics that must be debated.