GOP House of Delegates Kills "Ex-Gay" Conversion Ban

Brenda Pogge with now indicted Bob McDonnell

Proving once again that they are the tawdry political whores of the hate merchants at The Family Foundation ("TFF"), the Republicans in the House of Delegates killed a bill that would have banned therapists from inflicting fraudulent and dangerous "ex-gay" therapy on minors.  To these members of the GOP, the position of every legitimate medical and mental health organization in America means nothing.  All that matters is that they follow their orders from Victoria Cobb and the Christofascists at TFF.  Damaged lives and potential suicides just do not matter to these foul individuals.  The Daily Press has coverage on this disappointing development.  Here are highlights:

A House panel killed off legislation Thursday that would have outlawed controversial therapies meant to turn gay children straight.

House Bill 1135 only dealt with licensed therapists treating people under 18. Adults seeking the treatment still would have been free to do so.

These therapies, often called conversion or restoration therapy, don't work and have a long-lasting damaging effect on children who are taught that being gay is a bad thing, and if it can't be cured it might be their fault, or their parents', bill advocates argued.

The bill brought passionate testimony from both sides. Gail Dickert of Alexandria told House members that the therapy convinced her that her father molested her as a young child, turning her gay. He had not, she said. He died before she could tell him this was just a false memory planted by a therapist, she said.

In the end, members of a House Health, Welfare and Institutions subcommittee killed the bill on a 4-1 party line vote, much as supporters expected.  Del. Robert Krupicka, D-Alexandria, was the only yes vote. Del. Brenda Pogge, R-James City, said the issue wasn't ripe for change.
 Del. Patrick Hope, D-Arlington, the bill sponsor, said he believes the therapy will eventually be banned for children in Virginia, as it is in California and New Jersey.  "Hearts and minds are changing on this sexual orientation issue every day," he said. "One day this will be the law in Virginia.… It's time we had this conversation."

Brenda Pogge is an embarrassment to thinking Virginians.  She certainly makes the voters in James City County look like cretins.