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GAY RIGHTS

CA Looks to Ban 'Gay Cures' for Teens

Opponents say the law violates parents' rights, but supporters say it's humane

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by Mary Noble

Senior Editor t

Image: outtakeonline

California is well on it's way to becoming the first state to ban parents from attempting to "cure" their minor children of homosexuality through therapy.

State lawmakers are fixing up the bill's final language, after which it could reach Gov. Jerry Brown's desk in September.
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Do you support or oppose the ban on gay "cure" therapies for minors?

Comments (view in Forum)

  • marine1
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    In this country, taint never going to happen. Too many closet hypocrites. Too each their own, leave them alone can never happen.
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  • jayv87
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    There is no cure for being gay how dare parents do this to their children it is hard enough to be gay why would you make your child feel like they are doing something wrong?
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    dances-weebles
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    according to every medical association worldwide homosexuality is NOT an illness of any sort. maybe it's time you actually do some research rather than relying on your own fears and hatred to figure things out.
  • Wilberhum
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    @Amos777 Obviously you have no knowledge about the subject.
    I would assume you never had a serious talk with a homosexual.
    Your ignorance is showing. I would suggest you educate your self.
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    cpeter133
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    Homosexuality was removed from the list of mental disorders over 30 years ago. No ethical professional would treat a gay person in hopes of changing their orientation.
  • Bobolinsky
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    I've long held the belief that homosexuality is not a mental disorder. I've also believed that denial of one's homosexuality and feelings of shame towards being gay can easily lead to mental disorders.
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    Fishbone345
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    @Amos777 Jesus never mentions homosexuality at all in the Bible. This is false. You need to read your book a bit better and stop reading into passages from it. Talking about the beauty of marriage by no means condemns homosexuality.

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  • Real4WheelDrv
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    Gay people afraid to come out ALREADY suffer from the problems listed, so what has your "therapy" accomplished? To me it's just like the old view of disabled people, dirty family secrets that had to be hidden away. Let people be who they choose to be, and when they turn 18...if they CHOOSE to try these therapies, it's their choice.
  • dances-weebles
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    um... nobody 'chooses' to be gay... and many people know that they are gay or lesbian long before they enter adolescence. by 18 they have long realised that there's no changing.
  • Real4WheelDrv
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    @dances-weebles But by 18 if they are UNHAPPY and want to try some form of "cure" therapy, it should be their right. I think you might have misunderstood the tone of my post, I was saying that parents should leave their kids alone and let them be who they want to be. I realize choose was a poor choice of words because of the nature/nurture debate.
  • Real4WheelDrv
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    @dances-weebles You're welcome, we can disagree on things but I always like to avoid any ill feelings that might be caused by not being clear enough.
  • Fishbone345
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    Yes, the old view of disabled persons has come a long way. Think of how we had to hide FDR at one time. Look at how many pictures of him are behind a desk, or sitting down with someone.
    Huzzah for time and enlightenment.

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  • puppybrownie
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    Once again the government oversteps it's authority . Pretty soon parents will hand over their kids at birth,(head start) and they will be indoctrinated til adulthood when they will be good little goose stepping liberals.
    If parents want to waste their money on "Gay cures" that don't work that should be their choice!
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    cpeter133
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    Under that theory, you could justify most child abuse. That is all this anti-gay "therapy" is--mentally (and sometimes physically) abusing a child to be what you think they should be instead of what they are. It's ironic that you refer to indoctrination and goose-stepping, since that is exactly what those parents are doing to their kids.
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    Stratton
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    I can't think of any other case where legislators have attempted to ban a specific quack therapy. The only reason this is happening is that once again, homosexuals are considered a protected class with more rights than the rest of us.
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    cpeter133
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    It's a cute ideas, but there is absolutely no evidence that one is "made" gay--OR can be "made" straight. I grew up without knowing what homosexuality was, and yet when puberty struck, there it was. Never had an interest in the opposite sex, although I had female friends.
  • PuroChorizo361
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    @cpeter133 What do you mean no evidence ? Look closer at what's going on in this world its only obvious! There's nothing confusing about what you were given.
  • dances-weebles
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    and jesus responded saying,

    that a man be born gay from his mother's womb is to be called blessed by the heavenly father. let he who can hear these words, hear them.
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    cpeter133
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    Disgusting...parents are willing to torture their own children rather than allowing them to be happy as they are. There is neither a reason to try to change them nor a possibility, so what is gained? Would these same people be okay with forcing their kids into programs to change their religion--which is actually possible, since religion is a choice?
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    cpeter133
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    @hwyangel
    I never said they should. But they do; it's a fact that cannot be ignored. Children should be armed with the knowledge it takes to avoid causing a pregnancy or getting an STD, regardless of gender or orientation.
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    Stratton
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    Shall we also ban quack therapies for addictions to drugs and alcohol? What about dangerous fad diets promoted by best-selling books? How much of a nanny state do we want to have?

    Seems to me if the American Psychological Association thinks these therapies are bogus, they can ban from membership any therapist who practices them. Then if you choose to hire a therapist who's banned from the APA, that's pretty much your own stupidity, just as if you hired an unlicensed plumber.
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    Bambi
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    The governor nor anyone else who thinks it's ok to butt into parent's choices of rearing their children, are not the ones who lay on the table in the labor or delivery room Why they think they should dictate how the parents can or can not rear thier child is like Hitler. Remember how he made the boy children old enough to be in his little worship team? I know there was a name for them but it's gone right now.

    the liberals are more and more trying to take over every aspect of our lives.
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    Wilberhum
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    Sorry I voted you up in error.
    But I don't believe the government should allow child abuse.
    If you are abusing your children, I hope the government steps in.
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    Bambi
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    @Wilberhum
    Since the post didn't mention anything about child abuse, I didn't see the need to address it. I'm one of the biggest opponents of those who abuse children or anyone who is more helpless than the abuser. It happened to me and my siblings as children and I will not remain silent if I see it happening even with complete strangers. I have turned them in before, in spite of thier threats to me. I knew I was not in any danger because I was an adult and could get her back.

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  • Wilberhum
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    Locking children in the basement and never letting them out is 'not starving, beating,(this does not include spanking) or neglecting them'.
    So I guess you are all right with that.
  • Jack-Black
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    @Wilberhum Locking them in a basement and not letting them out would be neglectful. I might be wrong but I did not read that in the story I read.
  • Wilberhum
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    @Jack-Black By no means would it necessarily be neglectful.
    Homosexuality is not an illness. It is a natural occurring condition in many different species. Educate your self.
  • Jack-Black
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    @Wilberhum I never said homosexuality was an illness. I believe almost all "Gays" are born that way, however just because i believe it does not mean others should have to. The goverment needs to stay out of the way parents raise their children.

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  • freaky6smurf
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    @Wilberhum

    So its the governments job 2 Choose for you. Hmmmm I don't think so... I believe in the family & my wife is Asian...

    I'm sorry you trust the government so much..
  • freaky6smurf
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    @Wilberhum
    There is such a wide birth when it comes 2 how Different cultures raise there children .. so which is right. There is no easy Answer to the question.

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    Nat
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    Of course I support the ban on "gay cures". They are cruel. They only serve to make people so ashamed they deny who they are. They are never, ever "cured" of being gay. That would be like saying you were cured of being Japanese or having brown eyes.

    It is purely a religious bullying technique that garners more church members out of fear and hatred of oneself after the "cure" is put in place.

    It is shameful and irrational. It has no positive psychological advantages for the gay person. It has no basis in sound psychology. It has no place in America.
  • armed_liberal
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    People are gay, straight or bisexual. They have the choice to embrace or closet sexuality. "Gay cures" are merely abuse allowed by bad parents. The parents need an intervention, not the teens.
  • Waynestew
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    I am not sure about a ban. However I don't believe in gay conversion therapy. It NEVER works. Homosexuality is not a mental disorder nor is it a choice. I am a Christian and I do believe it is a sin. That being said it is not a greater of the sin then anything other.No ban, but a teen shoukd be able to opt out.
  • ultimaistanza
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    The problem is not all teens are able to opt out if they want to. Some are put in the uncomfortable position of, do I suffer through something I don't believe or do I face the backlash of my parents. The best option is just to ban it until an age that they can legally stand being on their own if need be.
  • Waynestew
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    @ultimaistanza I totally understand your point. But like all blanketed solutions to a problem there can be unintended consequences. A ban could prevent those teens & parents from being able to seek Therapy for things concerning their sexuality.
  • Waynestew
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    @CommonSense That is the unfortunate part about being a minor. Your parents basically make all the rules. When I was in high school my friend had atheist parents. I invited him to church and he decided to join my church. His parents got angry and put him on punishment until he was 18. After he turned 18 he returned my church. Being under your parents thumb is a part of life. No matter where you are on the political spectrum.
  • Keyjo
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    I don't understand, Wayne.
    You said that you DO NOT believe that homosexuality is a "choice." So if it is not a choice, but rather how we are born, then how can it be a "sin?"
    Isn't that kind of like saying being born left handed is NOT a choice, but it IS a sin?

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  • ir0nw0lfe
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    This is not an issue for the govt to decide. Parents have the right to raise their according to their values. As long as no physical abuse is involved then the govt needs to stay out of it. Period. We should not legistlate sexual choice. I don't condone homosexuality. I do think that children are highly impressionable. If they need to explore that sexuality then these gay cure type courses won't change their choice if that is who they truly choose to be.
  • ultimaistanza
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    It's psychological abuse. It's trying to cure something that doesn't impair a person's physical, cognitive, emotional, or behavioral functioning.
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