A self-described religious freedom group argued in federal court that Tampa's ban on conversion therapy, which seeks to covert participants to heterosexuals, violates First Amendment privileges.

Liberty Counsel, an Orlando-based litigation organization, is representing licensed therapists Robert Vazzo and David Pickup, and the pair's young clients, in their suit against Tampa over Ordinance 2017-47.

The ordinance, which was adopted by the city in March 2017, bans ”any counseling, practice or treatment performed with the goal of changing an individual's sexual orientation or gender, including, but not limited to, efforts to change behaviors, gender identity or gender expression, or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attractions or feelings towards individuals of the same gender or sex.”