California becomes the first state in the U.S. to ban gay teen “conversion” therapy. Last week, Governor Jerry Brown signed SB1172, which would outlaw the practices of these so-called “conversion” therapies on anyone under the age of 18. The new law will take effect on the turn of 2013.
We give props to Governor Brown for the signing of this bill. It is a strong initiative for gay rights, spurred on by the state leading in gay advocacy. The state of California has urged other states to follow suit.
We here at the Skyline View are all for the ban. LBGT youth are being targeted more than ever, whether it’s by online bullying or being forced into these therapies by their parents. Being gay/lesbian is not a mental disorder, and it is not a choice. These therapies made it seem as if being gay is a mental disorder and is something that can be cured.
These therapies are far from turning people straight. In some instances, these therapies have been borderline-extreme. Such extreme techniques have included shock therapy and even exorcisms. After all, most of the teens that have been committed to these therapies are the children of zealous parents.
The therapies have a sketchy track history. They fail at what they sought out to do. Some teenagers have even been excommunicated by their families, let alone the church, because these therapies fail. Of course they’re going to fail, being gay or lesbian isn’t a disease that can be fixed; It’s something that occurs in nature in over 1,500 species of animals, according to “Biological Exuberance: Animal Homosexuality and Natural Diversity,” a book by biologist Bruce Bagemihl.
Besides that, these therapies are counterproductive. Teens who have attended these therapies had their psyche heavily damaged. They’re lead to believe that their attraction to the same sex is wrong and it makes the individual hate himself, thinking that they’re not normal. It causes depression, anxiety and has pushed those fragile over the edge to commit suicide.
But of course, with the signing of a new law, there are people who oppose it, and this is no exception. Several Christian organizations are criticizing this new law, arguing that it is against the first amendment. These groups have begun litigation, saying that this ban “clamps down on speech by the professionals involved.” Well, where on the first amendment does it state that psychology is a form of freedom of speech?
These psychologists shouldn’t use these vulnerable minds as a canvas where they can experiment on their practices. It is wrong. They’re confusing the individual even more. They’re being the catalyst for the individual to further hurt themselves. Those religious parents are wrong to commit children to those therapies with the reputations to be harsh on them.
Bravo for SB1172. Bravo to Governor Brown for signing this piece of legislation. Now, no more will the gay youth of California be subject to the medieval thinking that homosexuality is a disease that can be dispelled by having a shrink modify your thinking. It is a big step forward for gay rights and acceptance nationwide.
(This version is the correct version of the editorial as the version first posted was not copy edited version of the editorial. We at The Skyline View are sorry for any trouble caused by this.)
