California Lawmakers Ban Therapy to ‘Cure’ LGBT Minors
The California Assembly voted 52-21 in favor of the bill, which was authored by state Sen. Ted Lieu (D) and co-sponsored by Equality California, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, Gaylesta, Mental Health America of Northern California, Lambda Legal, and the Courage Campaign. The bill will return to the Senate for a vote to concur in amendments made in the Assembly before heading to Gov. Jerry Brown’s (D) desk.
The bill completely bans reparative therapy for those under 18. For adult patients, the bill mandates a consent form that states “a lesbian, gay, or bisexual sexual orientation is not a mental disorder” and notes the therapy could be harmful.
The American Psychological Association and American Psychiatric Association have both officially stated there is no evidence that reparative therapy can change sexual orientation.
This is a great step forward.