Meet Corey Johnson, the gay, HIV+ speaker of the New York City council who wants conversion therapy to become legal again.
Though the move might sound counterintuitive at best, Johnson wants the ban repealed in hopes of keeping it on the books. If that sounds even more confusing, stick around…
It breaks down like this: A conservative group called the Alliance Defending Freedom has challenged the New York ban on conversion therapy on the grounds of free speech, claiming that the ban censors speech between patients and psychotherapists. With conservative higher courts in play, Johnson and his allies have repealed the ban in hopes of preventing the courts from protecting the harmful practice.
Related: California church under fire for promoting conversion therapy on Instagram
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“I don’t want to be someone who is giving in to these right-wing groups,” Johnson said of his political chess move. “But the Supreme Court has become conservative; the Second Circuit, which oversees New York, has become more conservative.”
Conversion therapy purports to change sexual orientation or gender identity through counseling and religious instruction. The medical and psychiatric fields have widely discredited the practice as ineffective and extremely harmful. Patients who undergo conversion therapy have much higher rates of depression, substance abuse and suicide.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
Johnson is completely wrong on this horrible move…
The right wing smcubags ARE going to find a way to bring this before a judge. Just as they have EVERY time they conjure up another way to attempt to deny us equality.
In the meantime Johnson’s inane move will subject kids in NY to this torture. And already the smcubag noxious reprehensive group has already begun crowing Johnson’s move proves they are right….
BradyKing1451
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Bryguyf69
Er no, there is no widespread desire for “conversion therapy” in New York City, and any therapist known to promote it would be boycotted and ridiculed. I don’t even know if insurance pays for it. Furthermore, those who are motivated by religion will simply go to the clergy to convert their children. The conversion ban doesn’t apply to the church, unfortunately, since their “counseling” is not considered therapy. In other words, the conversion ban doesn’t do too much in New York City so Johnson’s strategy is not misguided. Few, if any gay children will suffer. In NYC, it’s more likely that a gay child would be thrown out than forced into therapy.
James Hart
Hey, banning conversion therapy for children under 18 seems acceptable, however, banning it for a consenting adult violates his or her constitutional right to free association, and to decide what happens to his or her own body and mind. If an adult gay man or woman voluntarily submits to conversion therapy it is his or her business; not mine. Freedom means freedom for everyone, even when you disagree with their behavior and choices. I stand with and for freedom.
Josh447
One point the article failed to make. New York State banned conversion therapy. That includes NYC.
DuMaurier
Rather a significant omission. Also, the state takes the typical (and so far, judicially upheld) approach of banning the “therapy” for minors. The city banned it for everyone, even adults free to make their own choice. That may have been the “right” thing to do, but it definitely made it more vulnerable to legal challenge, and if it got to the Supreme Court, with its current lineup, it’s a legit fear that the conservative majority might well issue a sweeping ruling protecting the practice regardless of age.
justgeo
just look at the a—le a fat Pee Wee Herman!!!!!
take him down PLEASE! WHERE do we buy tar and feather these days?
REDBEARD
Can someone please explain to me why BradyKing1451 is allowed to continue to post his drivel ? It seem that the first or second post on any article is this troll posting an ad for some gay singles website.
Come on Queerty, get your act together.