California bans use of controversial therapy aimed at ‘curing’ homosexuality

California bans use of controversial therapy aimed at 'curing’ homosexualityCalifornia’s assembly has approved a bill prohibiting the use of therapy designed to “cure” homosexuality in teenagers, bringing the state closer to becoming the first to ban the practise in the US.

Gay rights advocates hailed the decision of the Democrat-controlled assembly as a major victory for gay rights. Gay right advocates have long insisted there is no medical foundation to conversion therapy, because homosexuality is not a disorder.

John Perez, a member of the assembly and the first openly gay speaker of California’s lower house said during the debate on Tuesday: “It is inappropriate for anyone, including parents, to subject anybody to dehumanising activity.”

The bill to prohibit children and teenagers from undergoing conversion therapy was passed by a vote of 51 to 21.

Conversion therapy is an attempt to change the sexual orientation of a person, from homosexual or bisexual to heterosexual.

Opponents of the practice claim the therapy can cause depression, and lead to substance abuse and suicide.

The Senate passed its version of the bill by of 23 to 13 in May, however, legislators still have to resolve differences in the two measures before a final bill is presented to California’s democratic governor, Jerry Brown, on Friday.

Mr Brown has not indicated whether he supports the bill.

Should the governor support the measure and sign the bill into law, California will become the first state in American to outlaw the practise for minors.

Republican opponents to the bill have stated it should be a matter for the medical boards, and not politicians, to decide. Furthermore they advocated the rights of parents to make decisions on the behalf of their children, a freedom the bill would encroach upon.

 

This is a copy of the full article provided by Telegraph

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