Thursday, August 29, 2013

Court upholds CA ban on 'ex-gay' therapy for minors

How's this for a sonic boom:

A federal appeals court on Thursday upheld the nation's first-of-its-kind law in California prohibiting health practitioners from offering psychotherapy aimed at making gay youth straight.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco ruled that the state's ban on so-called conversion therapy for minors doesn't violate the free speech rights of licensed counselors and patients seeking treatment
.
The activities of pastors and lay counselors who are unlicensed but provide such therapy through church programs would not be covered under the law.

The case before the appeals court was brought by professionals who practice sexual-orientation change therapy, two families who say their teenage sons benefited from it, and a national association of Christian mental health counselors. They argued the ban infringes on their free speech and freedom of association and religious rights. The counselors also argue it jeopardizes their livelihoods.

However, in a 3-0 ruling, the court panel held that California has the power to prohibit licensed mental health providers from administering therapies deemed harmful, and the fact that speech may be used to carry out those therapies does not turn such bans into prohibitions of speech.
The law says therapists and counselors who treat minors with methods designed to eliminate or reduce their same-sex attractions would be engaging in unprofessional conduct and subject to discipline by state licensing boards.'

Time to pass that same law in other states.

'Vile right-wing host smears gays, African-Americans, the Obamas' and other Thursday midday news briefs

Stan Solomon: Trayvon Martin Deserved To Die And So Does 'That Faggot' Dan Savage - How's this for proof about the common enemy of gays and African-Americans? Our movements are connected every time so-and so's like this guy open their mouths.  

Obama Connects Anti-Gay Discrimination With Racial Prejudice In Historic Speech - How very appropriate after the above news brief.  

The Daily Caller Just Can't Stop Defending Russia's Anti-Gay Crackdown - Keep it up, guys. Make yourselves irrelevant. 

Michigan Religious Conservatives Rely On Regnerus To Oppose Marriage Equality - This is why we must fight constantly. Even when it's refuted, members of the religious right will still utilize bad research.

 Miller On Fox: "Operation Or Not," Chelsea Manning Is "Living The Next 35 Years ... As A Woman" - Poor Dennis Miller. 9/11 definitely changed him. He became less funny and more of an asshole.

Gay presence at 50 anniversary of 1963 March on Washington



This is just too awesome for words. GLSEN's Executive Director, Eliza Byard speaks at the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington. In 1963, folks weren't even talking about gay equality. Now we have a place at the table at this momentous event.