Law banning gay 'conversion therapy' put on hold by judge

[Gaybutton]

Law banning gay 'conversion therapy' put on hold by judge

By Ashley Fantz, CNN
December 4, 2012

(CNN) -- A federal judge has issued a temporary injunction on California's ban on "conversion" therapy -- a method some say can help turn a gay person straight.

The first of its kind in the United States, the state ban was intended to prevent young people under 18 from undergoing the controversial treatment. It would have gone into effect January 1.

Conversion therapy has been being hotly debated across the country for some time. In November, four homosexual men who underwent the therapy filed a civil suit in New Jersey against a counseling group, saying they were deceived under the state's Consumer Fraud Act.

The therapy techniques described in that lawsuit included having participants strip naked in group sessions, cuddling and intimate holding of others of the same sex, violently beating an effigy of their mothers with a tennis racket, visiting bath houses "in order to be nude with father figures," and being "subjected to ridicule as 'faggots' and 'homos' in mock locker room scenarios."

Some psychologists insist conversion therapy is dangerous to patients, and say it simply does not work.

"To date, there has been no scientifically adequate research to show that therapy aimed at changing sexual orientation (sometimes called reparative or conversion therapy) is safe or effective," the American Psychological Association writes on its website.

"Furthermore, it seems likely that the promotion of change therapies reinforces stereotypes and contributes to a negative climate for lesbian, gay, and bisexual persons," says the APA, the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States.

Since 1975, the APA has called on psychologists to take the lead in removing the stigma of mental illness that has long been associated with lesbian, gay, and bisexual orientations.

U.S. District Judge William Shubb ruled Monday that the ban Gov. Jerry Brown signed earlier this year could offend the First Amendment rights of therapists to express their opinions about homosexuality. Three plaintiffs filed the suit, arguing that the ban was unconstitutional.

Full story, additional links, and videos: http://edition.cnn.com/2012/12/04/us/ca ... index.html

[Alex]

violently beating an effigy of their mothers with a tennis racket, visiting bath houses "in order to be nude with father figures,"

If it wasn't so sad, it would actually be funny!

[lvdkeyes]

visiting bath houses "in order to be nude with father figures,"

I know several Thai boys who would willingly and excitedly do this if they were the only young one there.

[Gaybutton]

I know several Thai boys who would willingly and excitedly do this if they were the only young one there.

I think this also illustrates how ignorant these people are about gays. They seem to believe that everyone gay is attracted only to younger and well built. I believe most of us know that is simply not true at all and many younger gays are quite attracted to us out-of-shape elderly gents and many of us older folks don't even want gays all that much younger than themselves.

In my opinion, it all amounts to prejudice based on sheer ignorance.