MI governor signs unconstitutional counseling censorship bill

The following quote may be attributed to Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel Greg Baylor regarding Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s signing Wednesday of HB 4616, a bill that censors conversations between clients and counselors by dictating what goals can be pursued and what ideas can be discussed:

“The government has no business censoring conversations between patients and counselors. HB 4616 jeopardizes constitutionally protected freedom of speech by allowing government officials to insert themselves into private conversations between counselors and their clients. Counselors shouldn’t be used as tools to impose the government’s views on their clients, and the government has no right to block clients from receiving counseling that is consistent with their religious beliefs and self-selected counseling goals. ADF will continue to stand for the right of all Americans to speak freely and live according to their beliefs without government interference.”

Alliance Defending Freedom is an alliance-building, non-profit legal organization committed to protecting religious freedom, free speech, parental rights, and the sanctity of life.

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