May 11, 2012
A first-of-its-kind bill is being proposed in California that would ban teens and children from receiving reparative therapy for same-sex attractions, according to Dr. James Emery White's blog on Crosswalk.com. Opponents of the bill -- which would ban anyone under age 18 from receiving sexual-orientation change efforts and require adults seeking treatment to sign a release form stating that the therapy would be ineffective and "dangerous" -- are calling it a blatant denial of freedom and parental rights, but it has already made its way through the state Senate Judiciary Committee. Brad Dacus of the legal defense group Pacific Justice Institute said the measure was "one of the most outrageous, speech-chilling bills we have ever seen in California -- and that's saying a lot." White added: "This particular bill is one of the most egregious and frightening I've ever seen. It essentially prevents a parent from leading their child away from unwanted same-sex attractions and attempts to prevent adults from receiving help to leave the homosexual lifestyle. In effect, it is not simply attempting to gain acceptance for homosexuality, but make its opposition illegal."