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by Causes | 5.1.18

UPDATE - April 16, 2019:

The Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear a case that sought to overturn a New Jersey law banning LGBTQ+ conversion therapy, meaning the 2013 ban will remain.
The medically-discredited practice attempts to change a child's sexual orientation from gay to straight. Researches with the Williams Institute found that approximately 698,000 LGBT adults in the U.S. have received conversion therapy at some point in their lives, including about 350,000 who received it as adolescents.
The legal challenge had been brought by the Christian advocacy group Liberty Counsel, who has vowed to continue fighting the ban.
“We will refile this case in New Jersey and soon get one of the cases before the Supreme Court. It is not a question of if, but when, the Supreme Court will take one of these cases and implement what it already clearly stated—that these laws violate the First Amendment,\" said Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel.

Staver Continued: \"The fundamental rights of counselors and clients to exercise their right to speak in private counseling sessions must be protected. The law is a gross intrusion into the fundamental rights of counselors and clients. All people should have access to the counselor of their choice. No government has the authority to prohibit a form of counseling simply because it does not like the religious or moral beliefs of a particular counselor or client.\"

Garden State Equality executive director Christian Fuscarino welcomed SCOTUS' decision, saying: “In rejecting this case today, the Supreme Court recognized what every sensible and compassionate person across New Jersey and this country knows: anti-LGBTQ conversion therapy is dangerous, discredited malpractice. It is nothing short of child abuse, and there is no legal argument to defend this horrible practice.\"

“It’s alarming that this bigotry-driven and legally-hollow case even got to the Justices for consideration, and this is a stark reminder that the rights of LGBTQ people - even here in New Jersey - are constantly under attack.”

Countable's original story appears below.

UPDATE - January 21, 2019:

New York has passed a ban on conversion therapy for minors after years of effort.

“New York has a compelling interest in protecting the physical and psychological well-being of minors, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth,” the bill reads in part, “and in protecting its minors against exposure to serious harms caused by sexual orientation change efforts.”
“So-called L.G.B.T.Q. conversion therapy is a fraudulent practice that has done untold harm to too many young people,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a statement.
The measure, which Cuomo has promised to sign, will make New York the 15th state to ban the controversial practice which has been widely discredited by medical and mental health organizations.

Countable's original story appears below.

UPDATE - August 8, 2018:

20,000 LGBT youth between the ages 13 and 17 will receive conversion therapy from a licensed health care professional before the age of 18, according to new research from the Williams Institute. An additional 57,000 youth will undergo the treatment from a religious or spiritual advisor.
Researches with the Institute also found that approximately 698,000 LGBT adults in the U.S. have received conversion therapy at some point in their lives, including about 350,000 who received it as adolescents.
Conversion therapy is treatment intended to change an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity. The practice has been widely discredited by dozens of medical associations and child-welfare groups. But critics argue that legislation banning the practice infringes on therapists’ First Amendment rights regarding free speech and freedom of religion.
The following is a map of which states have banned the controversial practice, which have introduced legislation to ban it, and where conversion therapy is still legal:

Created by the online Master's in Counseling program from Northwestern University

What do you think?

Has your state banned gay conversion therapy? Do you want it to? Or do you feel the bans infringe on First Amendment rights? Hit Take Action and tell your lawmakers, then share your thoughts below.

—Josh Herman

Countable's original story appears below.

What’s the story?

Hawaii is poised to become the 12th state to ban gay conversion therapy for minors. If passed, the bill would prohibit licensed professional counselors from working to change the sexual orientation of those under 18.
California was the first state to ban the controversial practice in 2012. Other states, including Oregon, Washington, New Jersey, and Maryland have passed - or are working to pass - similar laws.

What's the science say?

Conversion therapy has been widely discredited by dozens of medical associations and child-welfare groups. In April, 11 groups — including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Counseling Association — published a letter urging states to prioritize passing legislation to ban the practice.

What do proponents of bans say?

Democratic State Rep. Michael Golojuch, the chairman of the LGBTQ Caucus of Hawaii’s Democratic Party, said the ban “ensures that LGQTB youth will not be tortured by mental health professionals.”

What do opponents say?

Critics argue that legislation banning gay conversion therapy infringes on therapists’ First Amendment rights regarding free speech and freedom of religion.
For instance, the California Assembly recently passed a bill that would classify the selling or advertising of gay conversion therapy as a fraudulent business practice; Assemblyman Matthew Harper (R) was quick to note:

“This is a bill that would be overturned by a higher court on the grounds of the First Amendment.”

What do you think?

Has your state banned gay conversion therapy? Do you want it to? Or do you feel the bans infringe on First Amendment rights? Hit Take Action and tell your lawmakers, then share your thoughts below.

—Josh Herman

(Photo Credit: Nikodash / iStock)

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