Posted on 04/11/2015 5:48:11 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
President Barack Obama symbolically demonstrated support for certain transgender political goals this week by announcing his support for bans on conversion therapy for youth and the addition of a gender neutral bathroom in the White House.
In response to a petition posted on a White House website, the Obama administration expressed its support for Sexual Orientation Change Efforts Therapy.
Valerie Jarrett, a senior presidential adviser, wrote in the official response to the petition that President Obama supported such a ban.
"The overwhelming scientific evidence demonstrates that conversion therapy, especially when it is practiced on young people, is neither medically nor ethically appropriate and can cause substantial harm," wrote Jarrett.
"As part of our dedication to protecting America's youth, this Administration supports efforts to ban the use of conversion therapy for minors."
Jarrett cited California, New Jersey, and the District of Columbia, which have all passed bans on the practice. Jarrett implied that a federal ban would be a challenge to enact.
"While a national ban would require congressional action, we are hopeful that the clarity of the evidence combined with the actions taken by these states will lead to broader action that this Administration would support," continued Jarrett.
"This Administration believes that young people should be valued for who they are, no matter what they look like, where they're from, the gender with which they identify, or who they love."
Sometimes called "conversion therapy" or "reparative therapy," SOCE therapy seeks to change the sexual preferences of a patient from homosexual to heterosexual.
While rejected by mainstream American psychiatry, several organizations and professionals offer SOCE therapy for minors and adults.
Over the past couple years, several state legislatures have debated banning the practice, with California being the first to do so. Most bills, including those introduced in Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, and Virginia, have either been voted down or withdrawn.
In January, a petition was posted on the White House website "We the People" calling for the enacting of "Leelah's Law." Named for a transgender youth who committed suicide after her parents had her undergo conversion therapy, the petition garnered over 120,000 signatories.
"Therapists that engage in the attempt to brainwash or reverse any child's gender identity or sexual orientation are seriously unethical and legislation is needed to end such practices that are resulting in LGBTQ+ deaths," read the petition.
"We respectfully seek your help to ban the practice known as 'conversion therapy' and name the bill in honor of Leelah Alcorn."
This is far from the first time that Obama has expressed support for the gay and transgender rights movements.
In 2012, Obama became the first sitting president to express support for gay marriage legalization and in January gave the first State of the Union that included the word "transgender."
Earlier this week Politico reported that the White House recently included a gender neutral bathroom for guests.
The move complimented Obama's executive order barring federal contractors from engaging in employment discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation.
"An all-gender restroom is also available in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, which provides guests and staff an additional option," said White House spokesman Jeff Tiller, noted Politico.
"The White House allows staff and guests to use restrooms consistent with their gender identity, which is in keeping with the administration's existing legal guidance on this issue and consistent with what is required by the executive order that took effect today for federal contractors."
Ex-gay organizations and their allies have denounced the White House's recent support for SOCE therapy bans, saying that such a move interferes with a youth's freedom of choice.
In a blog entry, Andrew Comiskey of Desert Stream Ministries stated that the White House response to the therapy ban petition was "ill-informed" and based on "propaganda."
"Perhaps Obama thinks he is opening up the future for a gender-confused generation. He is actually closing it," wrote Comiskey.
"In refusing to consider valid options for persons who seek clinical assistance to change their sexual identity, he reduces human freedom, the very freedom he seeks to defend by condemning reparative therapy."
Sickening. Disgusting.
The founding Fathers would be mortified at the abomination in the Oval Office.
Please, someone say this is satire.
And he loves Muslims who now are allowed to cannibalize their wives.
Saw that and thought Bambam may be joining Bruce Jenner.
We need a cabinet level Department of Perversion.
They all gathered in the foyer to sing a rousing rendition of “The Lumberjack Song”! ... and that’s OK.
The world is aflame and this is what raises concern at the White House?
I was reading an interesting theory on the reason why Libs and Dems are for gays, transgenders is because they want to reduce the population.
I can smell the stench of the Obama white hut from my front porch — and I live over 3000 miles away from that pigsty..... thank God.
“..is because they want to reduce the population.”
Enter stage left,...ABORTION.
Sick Bastard Week at the White Hut.
Should be noted that a gender-neutral restroom might very well consist of a toilet and sink. One person at a time using it. Which are pretty darn common at a lot of smaller businesses.
I’m afraid I find this of itself remarkably unthreatening.
With the two groups together probably less than 2% of the population, good luck with that approach.
Isn’t EVERY day pretty much Transgender Day at the White House?
So these immoral thug pigs want to tell parents what they can and cannot do with their children?
They can all rot.
Which West Wing sinks are appropriate for semen, and which are not?? This might become relevant again if Hilarious! Wins.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.