Trenton, NJ – New Jersey Bans Gay Conversion Therapy

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    Trenton, NJ – New Jersey Republican Governor Chris Christie on Monday signed into law a measure to prevent therapists from counseling gay and lesbian youths to change their sexual orientation, making his the second U.S. state to ban so-called conversion therapy.

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    The state senate approved the measure in June, putting it on the desk of Christie, who is seeking re-election this fall and also widely considered a White House contender for the Republican Party in 2016.

    Citing medical and psychiatric research that sexual orientation is determined at birth, the law bans state-licensed counselors, therapists and social workers from practicing a method of talk therapy that opponents have said is deeply damaging to the self-esteem and identity of gay youths.

    Christie said he was signing the legislation based on research that found “efforts to change sexual orientation can pose critical health risks, including, but not limited to, depression, substance abuse, social withdrawal, decreased self-esteem and suicidal thoughts.”

    But he said he still had “concerns about government limiting parental choice on the care and treatment of their own children.”

    Former New Jersey Democratic Governor Jim McGreevey, who stepped down from office in 2004 in a gay sex scandal, praised the measure, saying it was based in “sound psychiatric research.”

    “Governor Christie should really be applauded,” McGreevey told Reuters. “Whenever a governor of his stature signs a bill like this, it sends a message, not just to the nation but to the individual child that you are normal and as God made you.”

    New Jersey becomes the second state after California to outlaw conversion therapy for people under age 18. However, the California measure has yet to take effect because of a lawsuit challenging its constitutionality.

    Opponents of the New Jersey law have promised a legal fight as well.

    John Tomicki of the League of American Families said both the New Jersey and California laws infringed on a parent’s right to decide the best treatment for his or her child.

    Troy Stevenson, executive director of Garden State Equality, a gay rights group and leading proponent of the measure, said there were moves to ban the practice in Massachusetts and New York. “There’s a huge push to ban this kind of abuse nationally,” Stevenson added.

    Conversion therapy has become increasingly controversial. In June, California-based Exodus International, a Christian group championing it, apologized for the harm it caused and said it was shutting its doors after 38 years..


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    32 Comments
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    10 years ago

    Its time so-called Orthodox groups stopped this destructive and harmful process.

    Reb Yid
    Reb Yid
    10 years ago

    When will they ban teaching that homosexuality is wrong? It’s coming.

    ModernLakewoodGuy
    ModernLakewoodGuy
    10 years ago

    While they are at it, they should ban homeopathic medicine and all other voodoo practices that scam people out of hard earned money with promises and false hope.

    sighber
    sighber
    10 years ago

    The homosexual movement has brainwashed children and society into thinking that the sin they commit is normal behavior. Hashem made the homosexual act a sin.Hashem knows His creations and would not have made it a sin if he knew people cannot control doing the act. Maybe Hashem gave the person the strong desire for the behavior but He also gave him the power, sometimes with medical or psychiatric help, to overcome the yetzer hara to do the behavior.

    Realistic
    Realistic
    10 years ago

    Is the opposite legal there?

    I someone who is gay wants to change, why shouldn’t he be allowed?

    Why is it allowed to change gender, while it’s determent at birth? (Maybe they disagree:)

    I wonder if anyone can come up with a better word the stupid for this mania.

    eliezer318
    eliezer318
    10 years ago

    The “gay” lobby is focused & aggressive and this is one of their tactics to dominate control of the public’s perceptions about homosexuality. It is not true that people cannot complete their psycho-sexual development into their destined heterosexual role through committment and compassionate therapeutic care. There is plenty of documentation available. Thus, a “law” such as this deprives those individuals who want to and are willing to change, of this possibility. As such,the spiritual antecedents of such a law are in the legal precedents enacted by the Anshei S’dom.

    10 years ago

    I knew a lot of men who went through this fake, dangerous therapy. They have either committed suicide or are now severely depressed. Their parents and Rabbonim forced them into the therapy.

    10 years ago

    wonderful, this is a disgusting and harmful practice

    as a lyric from a song that is currently on the radio says, regarding this exact type of therapy:

    “man-made re-wiring of a predisposition”

    you cannot change someone’s sexual orientation through therapy. You can help them lead a secretive and fake life, and help them deal with that, but you cannot actually change someone who is gay and MAKE them straight. It is not scientifically possible.

    a gita mentch
    a gita mentch
    10 years ago

    This is a huge problem for heimisha therapists, that will treat our bucherim. They will be able to lose their licenses if they treat them.

    10 years ago

    Sad to see that the Governor caved in to the toeivah lobby and propaganda on this issue. I thought he had more backbone than that. This will not help him within the GOP nationally.

    The tough talking Gov. caved in? Governor – say it ain’t so!

    10 years ago

    Open up a chumash and look what Hashem did to the people of the flood for moral decay. Look at the story of Yonah.

    Do you think Hashem will remain silent? He never does. I have heard someone say that Rabbi Avigodor Miller Z”L once said that if most of the states pass equality bills then America will cease to exist. Certainly sounds like his style, and as much as it may hit a raw nerve with some people, face it. The story of the Mabul is an example. Look at the first Rashi in the Torah how Hashem gives countries to whom ever he wants since its His world. And in Parashas Divarim.

    Talmud states that one of the reasons that caused the final decision for the mabul was when they started acknowledging homos as legal marriages. Yerushalmi actually states that earthquakes come because of this sin, and amazingly, shortly after NY passed their law a very rare earthquake shook the eastern sea board including NY! Its a warning sign!

    IF YOU ARE SMART YOU WILL MAKE SURE YOUR FAMILY HAS VALID VISAS. If a terrible calamity strikes you need to be in the best position to get out…so make that hishtadulus.

    sighber
    sighber
    10 years ago

    “While all blessings come from Hashem, a Jew is expected to do what is necessary in the natural order.In the matter of the same problem, you surely know that there are doctors and psychiatrists who treat it, and have been successful in many cases.I know of a number of cases of people who had this problem but eventually overcame it, married and raised a family.
    While on this topic, I would like to clear up a misconception that has led some individuals into confusion and wrong conclusions.The misconception stems from the argument that since some individuals are born with this problem, it must be a “natural” thing; hence it cannot be designated as a wrong, or a sin, and therefore no need to do anything to change it, or at any rate, it is not a serious problem at all.
    That this approach is entirely without foundation can be seen from the fact that the Torah (called Toras Chaim and Toras Emes because it is our true guide in the everyday life) declares that to indulge in it, or even to dwell on it mentally, is a grave transgression of Hashem’s commandment. Hence, it is also clear that the problem is controllable,for if it were beyond human control, Hashem would not have made it a sin.

    sighber
    sighber
    10 years ago

    My son said Hashem created him naked so he feels that it is his nature to be naked. Should I change him? It might effect his self-esteem and his identity . He says he is not bothering anyone when he walks around that way.

    enlightened-yid
    enlightened-yid
    10 years ago

    How will the Frum pseudo-psychologists make their parnosa now? There is a lucrative market in fundamentalist communities to mentally torture gay kids because “the bible says so” like Michelle Bachman’s shoddy bible belt torture clinic. At least JONAH has taken a hit, but for decades, their “experts” were scamming parents out of tens of thousands and turning gay frum kids completely depressed and suicidal. This religious based “psychology” has caused largest amount of Off the Derech kids who have become completely repulsed by their communities, rabbis, parents and educators that forced so much pain on them in the name of Torah.