The California State Senate has passed a bill that would ban so-called "reparative therapy", a psychotherapy method that ensures therapists can change a homosexual patient into a heterosexual, for minors.
The therapy is often forced upon young LGBT people whose parents or guardians believe being gay is a disease or mental disorder even though the American Psychological Association ruled homosexuality is not a mental disorder in 1973.
If the bill is made into law, California would be the first state in the nation to ban reparative therapy.
"The entire medical community is opposed to these phony therapies," said Senator Ted W. Lieu (D-Torrance). "These non-scientific efforts have led in some cases to patients later committing suicide, as well as severe mental and physical anguish. It's not just that people are wasting their time and money on these therapies that don't work, it's that these therapies are dangerous."
Tell the California Assembly: Ban Reparative Therapy!
We the undersigned urge you to support the ban of reparative therapy for minors, also known as SB1172.
Therapy is meant to provide support to those need of medical attention. Reparative therapy is detrimental to young minds, teaching them there is something fundamentally wrong with them when, in fact, they are perfectly healthy.
The American Psychological Association denounced the idea that homosexuality was a disease in 1973.
Please do not put California's youth a risk.
We ask you to please support the ban on reparative therapy for minors in California.
Thank you for taking our comments and concerns into serious consideration.
