California Governor Jerry Brown signed the first ever legislation against gay-to-straight “therapy” for minors.
The LA Times reports:
“No one should stand idly by while children are being psychological[ly] abused, and anyone who forces a child to try to change their sexual orientation must understand this is unacceptable,” [Sen Ted] Lieu said.
The measure was supported by groups including the National Center for Lesbian Rights. Kate Kendell, the group’s executive director, said the bill was needed so “state-licensed therapists cannot subject young people to practices that have been universally condemned by mainstream medical experts and that cause terrible harm.”
The bill, SB 1172, was opposed by Republican lawmakers as an intrusion by the state into the decision of parents about how to raise their children.
What do you think of this measure? Do parents have the right to decide what therapy their children receive? Do you think this help prevent depression and suicide in LGBT teens?
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In my mind, this was the correct decision. The only thing that upsets me is that we can ban female genital cutting and gay cures even when done for religious reasons, but it has proven nearly impossible to ban infant male genital cutting. Even many advocates for banning the first two will oppose a ban for the third even when they oppose the procedure themselves despite knowing that it would eliminate all routine infant MGC. Still, you take victories as they come and support the protection of any child.
Hmmmmm – supposedly rational people are terribly confusing, aren’t they? P^)
John – I appreciate your comment here. When my first son was born I never thought about him not being circumcised so the procedure went off without a hitch. Older, wiser, and surrounded by people who knew better i was pushed to decide what to do with our second son’s foreskin. My first response was “I want him to look like me” and “but his brother is wont he feel weird he looks different?”. My son is now 14 months old and my 5 y/o, who see’s every little detail about the most minute things, has not even noticed his little brothers penis looks different.
I agree that it is time to change the trajectory of this practice.