Latest news with #LoriVanWinkle
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
North Dakota Senate defeats amended conversion therapy bill
Rep. Lori VanWinkle, R-Minot, speaks in favor of a bill to legalize conversion therapy at a House Human Services Committee meeting on Jan. 21, 2025. (Mary Steurer/North Dakota Monitor) The Senate on Thursday defeated a bill 22-25 that originally sought to legalize conversion therapy. Initially, House Bill 1430 bill would have authorized social workers to provide 'a treatment plan or counseling plan that aligns with heterosexuality or the individual's biological sex,' so long as it was freely chosen by the client. The bill was introduced by Rep. Lori VanWinkle, R-Minot, who said people should have the right to seek treatments that affirm their religious beliefs about sexuality or gender. She previously told lawmakers that she is concerned most counseling is now LGBTQ-affirming and therefore would not be helpful for someone with anti-LGBTQ beliefs. 'To prohibit counseling that aligns with traditional or biblical viewpoints is religious discrimination,' she said. Bathroom bill would make schools less safe, opponents, LGBTQ advocates testify The North Dakota Board of Social Work Examiners and North Dakota Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers opposed the bill, arguing that it endorsed a form of treatment widely denounced as ineffective and unethical, and was grounded in misunderstandings about how counseling works. Licensed social workers are already barred from providing conversion therapy under regulations set by the Board of Social Work Examiners. In committee hearings, multiple social workers testified that they don't try to force people to accept their gender identity or sexual orientation. They said counselors are trained to support their clients, not tell them what to think. The Senate Human Services Committee adopted an amendment that sought to address many of those concerns. The amendment said social workers may provide counseling to an individual who 'wants to align their sexuality or gender with the individual's personal or spiritual beliefs,' but also specifically held that conversion therapy is illegal. Sen. Tim Mathern, a Fargo Democrat and licensed social worker, opposed both versions of House Bill 1430. He said on the floor Thursday that the amended bill wouldn't accomplish anything since it parrots existing regulations. 'This bill essentially says, 'Do what you're doing — listen to people and help make choices,'' Mathern said. 'It's a total waste of the Century Code.' Kristin Roers, R-Fargo, also opposed the bill. She said if the bill passed it would have been the first time North Dakota put ethical standards set by a occupational board into Century Code, which raises questions about government overreach. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Abortion, reproductive rights bills rejected in North Dakota House
Rep. Lori VanWinkle, R-Minot, speaks about abortion on the House floor on Feb. 12, 2025. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor) Four bills related to abortion and reproductive rights failed Wednesday in the North Dakota House. A so-called personhood bill would have allowed women who get abortions to be charged with murder. Two others sought to protect access to contraception and in vitro fertilization, while a fourth bill proposed what the sponsor called a 'common-sense' approach to abortion access. All failed with significant margins, with the pro-IVF bill garnering the most support. Members voted 77-16 against House Bill 1373, sponsored by Rep. Lori VanWinkle, R-Minot, which would have defined a human being to include an unborn child in state laws relating to murder, assault and wrongful death lawsuits. Abortion could be considered murder under fetal personhood proposal in North Dakota Opponents of the bill have said it would endanger IVF access in North Dakota, make it harder for doctors to treat pregnancy complications and lead to costly legal fights. North Dakotans previously rejected a personhood measure in 2014. VanWinkle argued in favor of the bill, referring to North Dakotans who accessed abortion by going to other states or obtaining medication by mail. 'The law is very clear. Murder is murder for everybody and it should be for anybody,' VanWinkle said. 'No matter what tool you use. Even if that tool is an abortion pill.' She also said that abortion may be one reason for the state's workforce shortage and referenced Scripture several times during her comments. 'Perhaps women are going to the IVF clinics because judgment is on their womb and God has effectively closed their womb because we are murdering massive amounts of children in our nation,' VanWinkle said. 'And if we would repent and do the right thing, maybe those people would actually get pregnant.' Several Republican lawmakers said it was a difficult bill. Rep. Kathy Frelich, R-Devils Lake, said she opposed the bill because it would be unenforceable. Rep. Matt Ruby, R-Minot, pointed to opposition from anti-abortion groups who argue against penalizing mothers. Members voted 87-6 against House Bill 1488, which would have allowed women to receive abortions for any reason through week 15 of pregnancy in North Dakota. Sponsor Rep. Eric Murphy, R-Grand Forks, said he brought the proposal in an attempt to find a 'common-sense' approach to abortion, citing a recent poll that found 55% of North Dakotans don't support the abortion ban approved by lawmakers in 2023. The law made all abortions illegal, except in cases of rape and incest in the first six weeks of pregnancy. It also included an exemption for women facing serious health risks. North Dakota judge vacates state abortion ban, ruling it unconstitutional A district court judge last fall struck down the law, finding it unconstitutionally vague and a violation of women's right to make their own health decisions. The judge also found that women have a right to choose abortion before the point of fetal viability. The state appealed the decision to the North Dakota Supreme Court, which has yet to make a final decision on the case. Murphy, who is a medical school professor, has said he brought the bill because of abortion bans around the country that have prevented doctors from taking care of their patients. His proposal also would have allowed abortions after 15 weeks with review of a committee of doctors, except for emergency situations. Rep. Karen Rohr, R-Mandan, a member of the House Human Services Committee, labeled Murphy's bill as 'abortion on-demand.' Murphy acknowledged his bill was a 'lightning rod' for criticism. 'Nonetheless, I decided to bring it so we could have the discussion,' Murphy said. 'So we could start thinking about a way forward to really provide obstetrics care.' House Bill 1477 and House Bill 1478, sponsored by Rep. Karla Rose Hanson, D-Fargo, would have enshrined protections for IVF procedures and contraception into state law. 'North Dakotans are asking us to protect their ability to seek medical care without government interference,' said Rep. Jayme Davis, D-Rolette, during floor debate. 'Fertility impacts thousands of families across our state and modern medicine provides safe, effective treatments to help them have children.' Rep. Gretchen Dobervich, D-Fargo, said contraception is legal in North Dakota but has been under attack across the country. She added contraception is a proven way to reduce abortions. Rep. Karen Anderson, R-Grafton, said the bill protecting contraception is unnecessary because the state has not limited access to the medication. The bill to protect IVF procedures failed 59-34 and the bill that would have protected contraception access failed 66-27. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
