State Senate OKs bill banning 'conversion therapy' for gay youths
The state Senate voted Wednesday to prohibit psychotherapists in California from using a kind of therapy aimed at trying to "convert" minors from being gay to heterosexual.
State Sen. Ted Lieu (D-Torrance) said the therapy is based on "junk science" that has been discredited by many in the medical community. "Its not just that people are wasting their time and money on these therapies that dont work," Lieu said. "These therapies are dangerous."
He said he authored SB 1172 after hearing of gay youths committing suicide or living in depression after therapists pressured them with guilt to change their sexual orientation.
The Senate voted 23 to 13 to approve the measure and send it to the Assembly for consideration.
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