California Gay Therapy Ban Temporarily Blocked

Religion Today | Updated: Jan 04, 2013

California Gay Therapy Ban Temporarily Blocked

A federal judge has issued a temporary injunction against a California law that bans counselors from using reparative therapy to help minors combat unwanted same-sex attractions, CBN News reports. U.S. District Court Judge William Shubb said protecting the free speech rights of counselors outweighed concerns that the practice could harm young people. The California legislature had said that therapy helping teens overcome same-sex attraction could lead to depression and even suicide, but Shubb said that claim was based on "questionable and scientifically incomplete studies." The injunction applies only to three counselors -- psychiatrist Anthony Duk, marriage and family therapist Donald Welch, and Aaron Bitzer, a former patient who is studying to become a counselor. The three sought to overturn the law, which will remain in force until a trial.



California Gay Therapy Ban Temporarily Blocked