New Jersey to Consider Ban on "Ex-Gay" Therapies; Christian Whack Job Sues California

Even as proponents of fraudulent ex-gay therapy move to sue the state of California for banning ex-gay therapy for those under the age of 18, their worst nightmare be starting to transpire: New Jersey may consider legislation that would implement a similar ban on such "therapy" which finds no scientific, medical or mental health support.  At least not outside of Christianist funded "ex-gays for pay,"  most of whom seem to be former alcoholics, drug users and prostitutes - i.e., the dredges of society who would do anything to find acceptance.  First these highlights from South Florida Gay News on developments in New Jersey followed by the issues of lawsuits in California.

Democratic Assemblyman Timothy Eustace, an openly gay father of two, is set to introduce a bill next week that would make it illegal for parents to subject their children to undergo “sexual conversion” therapy.  According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the bill will probably face resistance from anti-gay, conservative groups, and it’s unclear what would be the reaction of Republican Gov. Chris Christie to the legislation.

“I see it as a form of child abuse,’ Eustace told the Philadelphia Inquirer. “Being gay is not an illness, so what are they fixing.”  Two Democratic state senators, Raymond Lesniak and Stephen Sweeney, plan to co-sponsor a similar bill in the New Jersey Senate House.

“Parents don't have the right to endanger their children by participating in a practice that has no basis in science whatsoever,” Sen. Sweeney said.  If the bill were to pass, New Jersey would become the second state in the U.S. to ban “ex-gay” therapies.

California became the first state to ban such therapy on Sept. 29.  The therapies "have no basis in science or medicine and they will now be relegated to the dustbin of quackery," California Gov. Jerry Brown said in a statement.

But now back to developments in California where an, in my opinion,  obviously mentally disturbed college student who claims he once had same-sex attractions but became heterosexual after conversion therapy has filed a lawsuit against California.  Pardon me, but I'd love to know which of the anti-gay hate groups is secretly funding this litigation.  ABC News has coverage on this lawsuit which may well prove to be the death knell for the reparative therapy crowd who will not be able to find legitimate experts to support their bogus claims.  Here are highlights:

A college student who claims he once had same-sex attractions but became heterosexual after conversion therapy has filed a lawsuit against California, which has enacted a law that bans so-called "gay cures" for minors.

The lawsuit, also joined as plaintiffs by two therapists who have used the treatments with patients, alleges that the law banning the therapy intrudes on First Amendment protections of free speech, privacy and freedom of religion.

The student, Aaron Blitzer, who is studying to be a therapist in that field, said the law would prevent him from pursuing his career, according to court papers filed Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California.

The lawsuit names as defendants California Gov. Jerry Brown, as well as 21other state officials, including members of the California Board of Behavioral Sciences and the California Medical Board.

The other plaintiffs are Donald Welsch, a licensed family therapist and ordained minister who operates a Christian counseling center in San Diego; and Dr. Anthony Duk, a psychiatrist and practicing Roman Catholic.

Several members of the California Board of Behavioral Sciences and the California Mental Board were named in the lawsuit.  "Our board voted to support that piece of legislation after working with the author's office to further define sexual orientation change efforts," said Kim Madsen, executive officer for the sciences board, which licenses and oversees therapists.

The American Psychiatric Association has outlawed conversion therapies for more than a decade, insisting they are harmful.

The reality is that there is no right to inflict dangerous and fraudulent beliefs and treatment A prime example is Christian extremists who want to rely on prayer alone to cure seriously ill children and try to withhold medical treatment.  The are numerous cases where such parents have been criminally prosecuted and convicted for child abuse and/or neglect.  Subjecting a minor to bogus and psychologically damaging "ex-gay" conversion therapy is no different. I truly hope the plaintiffs go down in flames and set legal precedent for just who dangerous and fraudulent these "ex-gay" therapies are in fact