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UPDATE 9/3/2024: Lorain passed our proposed conversion therapy ban ordinance making history as the 12th Ohioan city to do so!
About Me
Hi, I'm Brandon West! A type 1 diabetic activist, advocate, and kindness spreader working on many community-involved projects, from fighting for LGBTQIA+ rights and drafting legislative initiatives to protect vulnerable populations, to organizing local events that bring communities together. My mission is to create lasting, positive change by amplifying voices, fostering inclusion, and ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to thrive in a supportive environment. Whether it's through advocating for policy changes, mobilizing grassroots efforts, or simply spreading kindness, I'm dedicated to making our world a better, more equitable place for all.
Banning Conversion Therapy Initiative
A current community-driven project I am leading is to ban the widely discredited and harmful "practice" of conversion therapy on both minors and vulnerable adults. As of September, 2024, Lorain, OH, had a second reading in hopes of passing such a harmful practice and did so on September 4th, being the 12th city in Ohio to have banned conversion therapy. In addition, I have written another ordinance that would implement a countywide ban on conversion therapy in Cuyahoga County. My small team of advocates and I are working hard to make this a reality!
Raising Awareness for Childhood Trauma
In July, 2022, I had presented a resolution to Lorain's City Council and Mayor that would urge the sitting Governor to declare a state of emergency on childhood trauma. This would do many important things but one is allowing emergency funds to be allocated in fighting childhood trauma. Unfortunately, the sitting Governor Mike DeWine has not taken any official action regarding the resolution.
• National Statistics: According to the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, one in four children in the U.S. experiences some form of trauma before the age of 16.
• Economic Impact: A study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine estimated that the lifetime costs associated with childhood trauma in the U.S. exceed $1 trillion.
• Legislative Precedents: Some states, like California, have passed legislation recognizing the long-term effects of childhood trauma and have allocated funds for trauma-informed care initiatives.
City Council Run
In December 2022, I decided to run for City Council in my hometown of Lorain. As I began preparing for a campaign centered on kindness, hope, and change, my health unfortunately started to decline. I developed a myriad of chronic illnesses that seemed to come out of nowhere. By late January, just before the petition signing deadline, I had to suspend my campaign due to these health conditions. I still struggle with them today, but I am learning how to live with them and am ready to pursue my dream of advocating once again.
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