California has become the first state to ban "gay cure therapy" for minors. Controversial therapies that are used to "overcome" homosexuality have been banned for minors is a step hailed by many, including, gay rights groups, that note its dangerous emotional harm to homosexual teenagers.
Governor Jerry Brown said in a statement Saturday, "This bill bans nonscientific 'therapies' that have driven young people to depression and suicide. These practices have no basis in science or medicine, and they will now be relegated to the dustbin of quackery."
The law will take effect on January 1 and states that no mental health provider is allowed to provide minors with therapy that is supposed to help change their sexual orientation and includes any efforts to "change behaviors or gender expressions, or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward individuals of the same sex."
The law is in support from medical and psychological societies, gay rights groups and politicians alike. Former patients of the therapy, many of which were pushed into it by their parents, also spoke up against the therapies noting the extreme emotional stress that it caused.
People that oppose the ban such as conservative religious leaders and some therapists say that it can reduce homosexual desires and that it will harm young people who want to fight their homosexual desires.
David H. Pickup of Glendale, Calif., said to the New York Times that the ban would cause harm to many.
"If boys have been sexually abused and homosexual feelings that are not authentic later come up, we have to tell them no, we can't help you," he said.
Gay and lesbian leaders and many scientific groups say, however, that there is no scientific proof that inner sexual orientation and attraction can be changed.
Despite opposition groups, this is a milestone for California with other legislators discussing similar bills such as in New Jersey.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
