Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

US Supreme Court: States can ban counselors from helping minors overcome same-sex attraction
LifeSiteNews ^ | 5/6/15 | Drew Belsky

Posted on 05/07/2015 10:39:47 AM PDT by wagglebee

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 6, 2015 (LifeSiteNews.com) -- By declining to hear a challenge to a lower-court decision, the U.S. Supreme Court has effectively solidified New Jersey's ban on "reparative therapy," or counseling designed to steer people away from their unwanted same-sex attractions.  Republican Gov. Chris Christie signed the ban into law in August 2013.

The New Jersey ban applies only to minors.  According to Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays (PFOX), noncompliance by parents could result in the state taking their children away.

The Human Rights Campaign, a powerful lobby dedicated to redefining marriage and normalizing homosexuality, recently decried reparative therapy as "a range of dangerous and discredited practices" that can "lead to depression, anxiety, drug use, and suicide."  In February 2014, activists in favor of normalizing homosexuality demanded that the United Nations classify reparative therapy as a form of torture.  Such accusations depend on the assumption that same-sex attractions are innate, unchangeable, and irresistible, despite a lack of evidence to support this theory and an abundance of evidence to the contrary.

But while reparative therapy has been panned in the media and the courts, not all therapists condemn the practice.  The Alliance for Therapeutic Choice and Scientific Integrity in conjunction with the NARTH Institute, for example, strongly advocated for Gov. Christie to veto New Jersey's ban in July 2013.  In a statement released at that time, the group emphasized the ban's threat to personal freedom: "The freedom of a gay teen to choose a therapist that honors his or her goals and values is unchallenged.  All citizens should expect equal treatment and protection from the law and lawmakers."

The therapists concluded: "The 'bumper sticker slogan' approach which so often characterizes media stories rarely improves the public's understanding of important psychological issues."

The NARTH Institute had joined two New Jersey therapists and the American Association of Christian Counselors in challenging New Jersey's reparative therapy ban, citing concerns about the state curtailing therapists' freedom of speech and religion.

Additionally, Mat Staver, the Liberty Counsel attorney who represented the New Jersey plaintiffs, claimed in a separate but related lawsuit that his client desired to repudiate his same-sex attractions.  "Before states began passing legislation banning change therapy, the treatment was driven by the minor's desired outcome," Staver said.  "Our client and his family were on the way to that desired outcome, until Governor Christie signed a law prohibiting further treatment. ... Governor Christie has no right coming into the therapy session of this young man and telling him what kind of counseling he can receive."

A federal judge dismissed the challengers' case in November 2013, deciding that "'counseling' is not entitled to special constitutional protection merely because it is primarily carried out through talk therapy."

Christie, who expressed reservations about interfering with "parents on raising their children," nonetheless signed the ban – "reluctantly," he claimed.  Yet, Christie rationalized, "exposing children to ... health risks without clear evidence of benefits is not appropriate."

On the point of the state's involvement with how parents raise their children, the Alliance-NARTH statement stressed that "[a]ny society that grants the right to an adolescent to decide to terminate a pregnancy ... cannot rationally suggest that this same adolescent should not have the right to freely participate in conversational counseling to discuss sexuality."  New Jersey currently has no parental notification or permission requirement for minors seeking an abortion.

Along with New Jersey, one other state has passed legislation to ban reparative therapy: California, under Democrat Gov. Jerry Brown, in October 2012.  (The District of Columbia City Council passed its own ban in December of last year.)  The Supreme Court refused in 2014 to hear the challenge to California's reparative therapy ban.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: homosexualagenda; moralabsolutes; newjersey; scotus; sexpositiveagenda
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 121-136 next last
To: dp0622

To me, “Conversion therapy” is category error but I’m not against people trying the direct approach. The underlying mental illness/issues that lead to Teh GayZ is the problem. Conversion therapy only treats the symptom.

If parents were smart, they would address that. Bring their kid to a reputable therapist dealing with the underlying issues and they get the conversion therapy automatically. It also skirts the GOP love of pro-gay legislating.


21 posted on 05/07/2015 10:59:11 AM PDT by Norm Lenhart
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Norm Lenhart

This situation brought to you by a REPUBLICAN. Not a Democrat. A REPUBLICAN Read that as many times as it take to sink in, lesser evil idiots.


Heck it’s hard to get republicans to CARE ABOUT VOTER FRAUD..

Roberts and Alito have ten foot pole marks all over them..
Bush was Obamas sugar daddy...

Bush must be secretly good friends with the Clintoon’s..
Brilliant... “Good guy, Bad guy” senario.. with...

Clintoon’s, Bush, Obama.. problem is WHO’S the good guy..


22 posted on 05/07/2015 11:00:56 AM PDT by hosepipe (This propaganda has been edited (specifically) to include some fully orbed hyperbole..)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: wagglebee

The filthy and disgusting “gays” are NOT pawns!!!! They are active participants in the drive toward totalitarianism!!!

Just wait a few weeks—when the “pride parades” take over your city and mine—against our will, of course. Then you’ll see that I’m right!!!!

The filthy and disgusting “gays” have also been propagandizing for war with Russia! They don’t care if millions of people die in WWIII—just as long as they can freely carry out their perverted couplings!!!!


23 posted on 05/07/2015 11:02:44 AM PDT by Honorary Serb (Kosovo is Serbia! Free Srpska! Abolish ICTY!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: hosepipe

“Bush must be secretly good friends with the Clintoon’s..”

I think the “Brother from another mother” comment pretty much meant they were no open with their bromance.


24 posted on 05/07/2015 11:02:49 AM PDT by Norm Lenhart
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: Norm Lenhart

Sounds like a more viable alternative.


25 posted on 05/07/2015 11:03:21 AM PDT by dp0622
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: Norm Lenhart

Edit: NOW open


26 posted on 05/07/2015 11:04:19 AM PDT by Norm Lenhart
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: Norm Lenhart
I gave up on the GOP a long time ago.
27 posted on 05/07/2015 11:06:28 AM PDT by wagglebee ("A political party cannot be all things to all people." -- Ronald Reagan, 3/1/75)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: wagglebee

Because homosexuals are never depressed, anxious, suicidal drug users.


28 posted on 05/07/2015 11:06:36 AM PDT by Blood of Tyrants (A free society canÂ’t let the parameters of its speech be set by murderous extremists.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: wagglebee
[Art.] Such accusations depend on the assumption that same-sex attractions are innate, unchangeable, and irresistible, despite a lack of evidence to support this theory and an abundance of evidence to the contrary.

That "theory" has always been a lawyer's lie, a legal fiction designed to allow or entice Supreme Court justices to equate homosexual practice with innate characteristics like gender and race, for the purpose of securing a Brown vs. Board decree from the Court that equates homosexuals morally and legally with normal people.

A full battalion of gay lawyers have been working this case, this Supreme Court slamdown, we-win-you-lose-forever-ha-ha-ha case, since before 1980. Month-in, month-out, year after year after year.

Lambda Legal (then) superlawyer Evan Wolfson laid it all out in a 2001 interview with 365gay.com after Lambda and allies lost the James Dale Boy Scouts USA case. I think you have links, wagglebee, that we've put together over the years, with you and scripter and little jeremiah and Bryan doing a ton of heavy lifting to put together that links archive.

29 posted on 05/07/2015 11:08:06 AM PDT by lentulusgracchus ("If America was a house, the Left would root for the termites." - Greg Gutfeld)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: EnigmaticAnomaly

LOL, stolen property!


30 posted on 05/07/2015 11:09:20 AM PDT by lentulusgracchus ("If America was a house, the Left would root for the termites." - Greg Gutfeld)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: wagglebee; Norm Lenhart

” I gave up on the GOP a long time ago. “

New GOP slogan

” GOP Leadership...following 100% of the CPUSA guidelines since November 2014”


31 posted on 05/07/2015 11:09:36 AM PDT by stephenjohnbanker (My Batting Average( 1,000) (GOPe is that easy to read))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: dp0622

It makes sense to me. Gay is behavioral. Always was, always will be. When you have underlying issues that compound it, deal with those. The list of issues leading to it are established. Sexual abuse, “grooming”, 24/7 propaganda, peer pressure etc. That leads to confusion and depression. That leads to all sorts of ‘joy’ and the viscous circle is complete.

Treat the problem, not the symptom. You can’t fix them all, but you’ll fix some.


32 posted on 05/07/2015 11:10:12 AM PDT by Norm Lenhart
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: wagglebee

Now if the rest of the right would only follow suit, America might even have a chance to START fixing their damage.


33 posted on 05/07/2015 11:11:32 AM PDT by Norm Lenhart
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: wagglebee

God, I can’t believe this. Shows complete udder refusal to look at any scientific data or discuss it.

Why then are we allowing chiropractors to treat wrist pain or deliver babies in Oregon...?


34 posted on 05/07/2015 11:11:59 AM PDT by nikos1121 ("The enemy of your enemy is your enemy!" B. Netanyahu)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Norm Lenhart; hosepipe
I think the “Brother from another mother” comment pretty much meant they were no open with their bromance.

The Bush-Clinton friendship began BEFORE the 1992 election.

35 posted on 05/07/2015 11:14:45 AM PDT by wagglebee ("A political party cannot be all things to all people." -- Ronald Reagan, 3/1/75)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: sickoflibs
"...but if States can ban counselors from helping minors overcome same-sex…"

I hope I'm wrong…. This makes me think it's their lukewarm attempt to split the baby. They uphold "states rights" to a degree, then claim gay marriage a right under the 14th.

36 posted on 05/07/2015 11:14:58 AM PDT by moehoward
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: circlecity

take these kids out of state —

Good thing we have the Lindbergh Law.


37 posted on 05/07/2015 11:15:17 AM PDT by Scrambler Bob (an icon of resistance within the oppressed patriots, who represent resilience in the face of SSV)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: wagglebee

Oh absolutely. It’s just now they are open about it.


38 posted on 05/07/2015 11:20:17 AM PDT by Norm Lenhart
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: Scrambler Bob

And then the LGBTQXYZ crew sues under the full faith crap demanding reciprocity between states. As usual. But in the meantime, the parents have CPS come a’callin.

Remember, “Law” no longer matters in Obamerica when “Law” is not in their favor.


39 posted on 05/07/2015 11:24:11 AM PDT by Norm Lenhart
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: Norm Lenhart

Jeb is the Barney Fife of republican politics..
George Jr.... is the Alfred E. Neuman... resembles him too..
Laura is pretty, but is the “Valley Girl” of first ladies..

George Sr. is the republican Svengoolie... of Texas politics..

American Politics has become a game show... for REAL...
WIN elected office and you get a get out of a Jail FREE CARD..

Federal and sometimes State and even Local..
Depends on WHICH Cartel you are connected with....

YES; cartel, junta, gang, mafia, or international commissar..
America has entered World Class Demagoguery..


40 posted on 05/07/2015 11:24:20 AM PDT by hosepipe (This propaganda has been edited (specifically) to include some fully orbed hyperbole..)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 121-136 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson