California bans gay conversion therapy for minors

[Kuya]

SACRAMENTO (Reuters) - Governor Jerry Brown has signed a bill banning a controversial therapy that aims to reverse homosexuality in minors, his office announced on Sunday, making California the first state to ban a practice many say is psychologically damaging.

The move marked a major victory for gay rights advocates who say so-called conversion therapy, also called reparative therapy, has no medical basis because homosexuality is not a disorder.

Brown said in a short message on Twitter that he supported the bill because it "bans non-scientific 'therapies' that have driven young people to depression and suicide."

The measure prohibits children and teens under 18 from undergoing sexual orientation change efforts. It received support from the California Psychological Association and the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, among others.

"LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) youth will now be protected from a practice that has not only been debunked as junk science, but has been proven to have drastically negative effects on their well-being," Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin said in a statement.

Lieu said the psychiatrist who pioneered the therapy, Dr. Robert Spitzer, has since renounced it and has apologized to the gay and lesbian community.

Several openly gay legislators gave emotional speeches in support of the measure, sharing how they were bullied because of their sexual orientation as youths.

Opponents said the bill encroached on the rights of parents to make choices for their children. They also said politicians should not regulate what they considered to be a matter for medical boards to decide.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/s...,5423482.story

I hope it catches on with other states too.

[Kuya]

Can a mod change conversation to conversion? My bad

[Tajin]

This is good news I'd say.

[Howie Roary]

finally some good news

[hey]

Opponents said the bill encroached on the rights of parents to make choices for their children.

I didn't realize parents had the right to abuse their children.

[kisada]

this is pretty damn good.

[Rhyis.]

All gay conversations should be banned.

[Acevalefor]

"For The Bible Tells Me So" - A documentary about this issue exactly. It's obviously biased being a documentary and all, but it brings attention to the horrible things that homophobic religious parents are doing to their gay children.

Not sure how this should be an issue for a medical board to decide. Should the medical board also decide what constitutes child abuse?

[hey]

Not sure how this should be an issue for a medical board to decide. Should the medical board also decide what constitutes child abuse?

Probably.

[Dimmauk]

Whatever happened to religious parents making their gay kids become priests or nuns? We have a serious lack of quality priests. Straight ministers are shady and seems to be in it for the money. Gay priests love Jesus alot more deeply.

[Waraji]

Whatever happened to religious parents making their gay kids become priests or nuns? We have a serious lack of quality priests. Straight ministers are shady and seems to be in it for the money. Gay priests love Jesus alot more deeply.

By "love" and "deeply" I can only assume you mean they would like to/be sodomized by Jesus?

[hey]

What else could he mean?

[Andalusian girls]

ideally the social conservatives appeal this through the judicial system and in time The Supreme Court will outlaw this wretched meld of bigotry and child abuse

regardless +1 California

[Kurokikaze]

Good shit California.

One does not simply, turn someone straight.

[6souls]

One does not simply, turn someone straight.

This man would tend to disagree.

http://msnbcmedia2.msn.com/j/MSNBC/C...p.grid-6x2.jpg