Monday, January 13, 2014

New York State: Legislation Introduced to Ban "Ex-Gay" Therapy

At least three states now have seen bills introduced to ban the use of "ex-gay" therapy on minors: Virginia, Maryland and now New York.  The hate merchants at groups like PFOX, Family Research Council, American Family Association, not to mention the faux experts at NARTH must be having apoplexy.  Should these bills pass, they would do much to further expose the fraudulent nature of "ex-gay" or reparative therapy which is not only ineffective, but also dangerous.   The practice is still around for basically two reasons: (i) reparative therapy is the lynch pin to Christofascists' false politically motivated claims that being gay is a "choice" and that sexual orientation can "change," and(ii) so-called "ex-gay ministries" - like that of Marcus, a/k/aMarcis Bachmann - rake in a lot of money preying on the ignorant and gullible.  Here is information on the bills which are needed to protect LGBT youth from psychological and physical abuse via Empire State Pride Agenda:

Trying to change someone’s true identity through so-called therapy is a dangerous practice that can seriously harm our LGBT youth.

This legislation would protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) minors from psychological abuse at the hands of so-called medical professionals who try to change their sexual orientation or gender identity. These dangerous practices can seriously harm our LGBT youth by not only denying their true identities, but by trying to change who they are.

That’s why we’re working with Assemblymember Deborah Glick (A.6983) in the State Assembly and Senators Brad Hoylman and Michael Gianaris (S.4917) in the State Senate to pass a law that would ban this damaging practice. To date, California and New Jersey have passed similar legislation.

The vast majority of associations of mental health practitioners and researchers all acknowledge the detrimental effects that this damaging practice has on minors. The American Medical Association and the American Psychiatric Association oppose this practice and are joined by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, the American Counseling Association Governing Council, the American Psychoanalytic Organization, the American School Counselor Association, the National Association of Social Workers and the Pan American Health Organization.

In June 2013, after 36 years of leading the “ex-gay” movement, Exodus International disbanded amid growing skepticism of its top officials and board members that sexual attractions can be changed.

Indeed, Alan Chambers, the last president of Exodus International, admitted that 99.9% of those who went through "ex-gay" therapy failed to change their sexual orientation or attractions.  
 

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