California: Bill would ban therapy to 'convert' gay youths
(looks like once they amend the wording a little, California will be on the way to prohibiting what I think is a form of child abuse --therapy intended to change someone's orientation)
Bill would ban therapy to 'convert' gay youths
Marisa Lagos
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
California could become the first state in the nation to ban therapy aimed at turning gay and lesbian youths straight, after legislators in a key policy committee approved the proposed law Tuesday and sent it to the Senate floor.
SB1172 by Sen. Ted Lieu, D-Torrance (Los Angeles County), would make it illegal for therapists and psychologists to provide so-called sexual orientation change therapy - also known as conversion or reorientation therapy - to minors and require them to obtain written consent from adults who wish to undergo the counseling.
The bill cites a 2009 American Psychological Association report, which concluded this type of mental health therapy is "unlikely to be successful and involves some risk of harm," including depression, thoughts of suicide and anxiety.
...
But mental health groups are not ready to support the bill, even though most - including the American Psychological Association - formally oppose sexual orientation change therapy. Lieu told members of the committee, which passed the bill on a party-line vote with Republicans opposed, that he will amend the bill to address those concerns.
more at:
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/09/MNFE1OF5QT.DTL
This article appeared on page A - 1 of the San Francisco Chronicle