Lawsuit challenges California ban on gay conversion therapy for youth

[CriticalThought]

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A Christian legal group has filed a federal lawsuit challenging a landmark California law that bars a controversial therapy aimed at reversing homosexuality from being used on children and teens, calling it a violation of privacy and free speech rights.

California's Democratic Governor Jerry Brown signed the ban into law over the weekend, making the nation's most populous state the first to ban so-called conversion therapy among youth. Gay rights advocates say the therapy can psychologically harm gay and lesbian youth.

"This legislation is an outrageous violation of the civil rights of youth, of parents and of licensed counselors, including clergy who are licensed counselors," said Brad Dacus, president of the Pacific Justice Institute, which filed the suit late on Monday for a student who underwent the therapy and two counselors.

"What we're advocating is for all to have the freedom and liberty to seek the counseling that meets their needs," Dacus told Reuters by telephone.

Lawsuit challenges California ban on gay conversion therapy for youth - chicagotribune.com

This law would in no way inhibit anyone from providing a ministry or unlicensed service for providing assistance to those looking to reduce or eliminate same sex attractions. All this law does is say that providing therapy that seeks to eliminate or convert same sex attractions is not evidence based and therefore is not legitimately medical or ethical and therefore people who are licensed professionals who do so under the guise that it is can be disciplined by their respective state licensing agencies.

This lawsuit is basically saying that the licensing agencies of California cannot determine what is and is not legitimate medical practice. You can argue that same sex attractions are changeable from dawn to dusk, you just can't do it in a professional capacity with a California mental health license. If you don't like it then you can exercise the agency not to get the license and simply do it from a "ministry" or unlicensed capacity. How is that a violation of free speech?

 

[joko104]

Not like the thread already on this topic?

Do you - or anyone - have a link to the actual statute? Does it include or exclude religious organizations? Does it only protect gays, but not hetero and bi youths from such counseling?

Psychologists are NOT in the medical practice field.

 

[CriticalThought]

Not like the thread already on this topic?

Do you - or anyone - have a link to the actual statute? Does it include or exclude religious organizations? Does it only protect gays, but not hetero and bi youths from such counseling?

Psychologists are NOT in the medical practice field.

This is a thread about the lawsuit, not the bill. And yes, religious institutions are specifically exempt in this law.

Here is a link to the text of the law...

Bill Text - SB-1172 Sexual orientation change efforts.

And if you can bill insurance, as licensed psychologists, licensed mental health providers, and licensed social workers can, then you are considered "medical".