Perhaps the most cruel part of anti-gay conversion therapy is that these young people cannot even defend themselves from being subjected to this harmful practice. I am not broken. I am not confused. I do not need to be ‘fixed.’ And as of this moment, more than 110,000 people from around the country have signed my petition, affirming that it’s time for the New Jersey legislature and Gov. Christie to protect kids from this dangerous practice.”Jacob Rudolph, an 18-year-old senior who came out to his classmates at Parsippany High School during a assembly, to members of the New Jersey Senate Committee on Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens. The committee voted to pass a bill banning conversion therapy for minors to the Senate for a full floor vote. Gov. Christie has not revealed whether or not he will support the measure. comment on whether he will support Senate Bill S2278.
Source: Patch.com
BJ McFrisky
I don’t condone conversion therapy, but if you take a step back and look at the big picture, you’ll realize that, for some, feeling a need to change one’s sexuality is probably just as strong a drive as needing to change one’s gender. We can try to disuade individuals from seeking such therapy, but to make it illegal? That’s like making certain religions illegal because they don’t fit a particular ideology.
mlbumiller
@BJ McFrisky:
are you really sure you read the article or know what the law is about? Not banning the practice of the therapy, parents and guardians cannot FORCE MINORS into it. If a consenting adult choses, their right.
Thad1527
Oh, adults can get all the conversion therapy they want. (I couldn’t explain why.) But New Jersey now realizes it’s not for kids. I approve.
schlukitz
@BJ McFrisky:
So I guess we can assume that you also do not agree with the government banning cigarette smoking in public venues?
And given the horrendous amount of harm and destruction that religions have caused, give me a good reason why it should not be made illegal?
MuscleModelBlog.com
@BJ McFrisky:
Even though I think that it’s something that can’t be changed, I do agree that if adults want to try to change their orientation, they should be allowed to; however, as others said, it should not be FORCED on minors.
mlbumiller
what S2278 STATES:
a. A person who is licensed to provide professional counseling under Title 45 of the Revised Statutes, including, but not limited to, a psychiatrist, licensed practicing psychologist, certified social worker, licensed clinical social worker, licensed social worker, licensed marriage and family therapist, certified psychoanalyst, or a person who performs counseling as part of the person’s professional training for any of these professions, shall not engage in sexual orientation change efforts with a person under 18 years of age.
b. As used in this section, “sexual orientation change efforts” means the practice of seeking to change a person’s sexual [persuasion] orientation, including, but not limited to, efforts to change behaviors , gender identity, or gender expressions, or to reduce or eliminate sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward a person of the same gender; except that sexual orientation change efforts shall not include 1counseling for a person seeking to transition from one gender to another, or1 counseling that:
(1) provides acceptance, support, and understanding of a person or facilitates a person’s coping, social support, and identity exploration and development, including sexual [persuasion-neutral] orientation-neutral interventions to prevent or address unlawful conduct or unsafe sexual practices; and
(2) does not seek to change sexual [persuasion] orientation
edensasp
@BJ McFrisky:”That’s like making certain religions illegal because they don’t fit a particular ideology.”
“You mean like the banning & outlawing of human sacrifices in the practice of a religious faith”
Its not banning a religion, its limiting and banning the conduct of harmful practices affiliated with any religion on minor children.
Gigi Gee
@BJ McFrisky: It’s only illegal (in places that have banned the practice) for people 18 years of age or younger. These kids are going into these programs willingly. They’re being forced by their families who believe that they are “broken” and need to be fixed.
DarkZephyr
@BJ McFrisky: There you are again, supporting homophobia.
Billysees
He said, “I am not broken. I am not confused. I do not need to be ‘fixed.’”
This matter cannot be expressed in any better language.
unclemike
@BJ McFrisky: It will only be illegal to subject minors to conversion therapy. As soon as the person in question turns 18, they can join all the “pray-the-gay-away” cults they can handle.