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Gay Conversion Therapy Ban Proposed in NJ — But Will Gov. Chris Christie Support It?

Mar. 22, 2013 7:38am Billy Hallowell

The battle over gay conversion therapy has come to New Jersey — and Republican Gov. Chris Christie isn’t sure how he’ll handle a proposed ban on the process.

In a day and age in which homosexuality is becoming more acceptable among the American populace, so-called gay conversion therapy (also known as reparative therapy) has come under increasing fire.

While some Christian counselors believe in the process, which is an effort to help individuals with same-sex attraction overcome their feelings, opponents contend that it is entirely counter-productive, with some charging that it leaves gay men and women emotionally damaged.

Gay Conversion Therapy Ban Proposed in NJ Heres How Gov. Chris Christie Is Responding

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie answers a question in Manasquan, N.J., Thursday, March 21, 2013, during a town hall meeting. Christie answered questions about recovery and building standards from a crowd, estimated by fire officials at nearly 1,000 in the Superstorm Sandy-damaged Shore town. Credit: AP

The American Medical Association (AMA) is among the groups that derides conversion therapy, with the organization writing on its web site that it, “opposes, the use of ‘reparative’ or ‘conversion”‘therapy that is based upon the assumption that homosexuality per se is a mental disorder or based upon the a priori assumption that the patient should change his/her homosexual orientation.”

This week, Christie, known for his fiery commentary and no-holds-barred political statements, addressed legislation that would ban these controversial therapies. Rather than taking a definitive stance, he explained that he’s undecided on the matter.

“I’m of two minds just on this stuff in general,” he said. “Number one, I think there should be lots of deference given to parents on raising their children…Generally philosophically, on bills that restrict parents ability to make decisions on how to care for their children, I’m generally a skeptic of those bills.”

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie speaks to a large gathering in Manasquan, N.J., Thursday, March 21, 2013, during a town hall meeting. Christie answered questions about recovery and building standards from a crowd, estimated by fire officials at nearly 1,000 in the Superstorm Sandy-damaged Shore town. Credit: AP

While the governor noted that this is generally his stance, he also said that there are exceptions to this rule and that the gay therapy ban may, in fact, be one of them. Additionally, according to NJ.com, Christie admitted to knowing very little about the process and said that he had not yet reviewed the bill.

His inconclusive stance is not entirely surprising, as Christie remains opposed to same-sex marriage — a stance that has obviously frustrated gay rights proponents.

As The Huffington Post notes, New Jersey Senate’s health committee approved legislation earlier this week that would ban reparative therapy for minors — even in cases in which parents give permission. So far, the only U.S. state to pass a ban is California, however that law has been put on hold by a federal appeals court.

(H/T: Huffington Post)

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Comments (101)

taksavillage
Posted on March 22, 2013 at 4:20pm
WHY IN THE WORLD would Christie’s personal beliefs concerning reparative therapy matter???? The ban is an infringement on the choice that unhappy adults are making to change from a lifestyle that can be dangerous physically and emotionally.

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- TotallyNotATroll
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 4:43pm
  I doubt he will support a ban on this therapy, it worked so successfully for him after all..
  
  Report this comment
- jcldwl
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 7:05pm
  Who cares what Chris Christie has to say.
  
  Report this comment
- joem789
  Posted on April 3, 2013 at 4:13am
  This is 2013. In the early 1900s, research determined without a doubt that homosexuality is a hormonal imbalance present at birth. And it explains not only homosexuality, but transgender and so. But of course, money talks. And the greedy politicians listen to that. Just not the truth.
  
  I also have a close friend who was born with a hormonal imbalance. he comes from a Christian family. thus, he was taught that living a gay life is wrong. He believed it. I always knew that he pretended to like girls. But everyone else could tell he liked boys. His hormonal imbalance had a rare effect on his overall growth. Thus, he had to be put on steroids when he was 17. This obviously changed him dramatically. because he had already developed for 17 years, his newfound manhood mixed with his estrogenic self. His voice was deeper. But he still resembled a lesbian somewhat. But one thing is for sure. He developed a desire for women. This was 20 years ago. He still dates women.
  
  After his experience I had suspected that his condition was probably related to homosexuality overall. I knew nothing about the early research until years later. its just too bad that there are so many stupid people in the world that can’t see the truth. It is a birth defect. It isn’t really natural just because it happens at birth. Think of all the other “natural” birth defects. Just because it only affects your sexual orientation, that doesn’t make it normal. Far from it. homosexuality isn’t normal.
  
  Report this comment
Gladileftcalifornia
Posted on March 22, 2013 at 3:28pm
Christie is of two minds on everything…it depends on which direction the wind is blowing.

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- The-Right-Rider
  Posted on March 27, 2013 at 9:54am
  @HARRY POTTER
  
  telling people that conversion therapy is wrong without a shred of evidence to support your claim isn’t just wrong, it’s disingenuous.
  
  Report this comment
MACaTAC
Posted on March 22, 2013 at 1:14pm
Denying abused people therapy is wrong, period.

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- HarryPotter
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 1:39pm
  Telling people abuse is therapy is wrong.
  
  Report this comment
- The-Right-Rider
  Posted on March 27, 2013 at 10:33am
  @HARRY POTTER
  
  telling people that conversion therapy is wrong without a shred of evidence to support your claim isn’t just wrong, it’s disingenuous.
  
  Report this comment
GreggC
Posted on March 22, 2013 at 12:56pm
NJ people are SO SCREWED up!!!!

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- JRook
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 2:20pm
  Perhaps, but let’s hope they don’t ban Sarah Palin or Christine O’donnell reparative therapy. There are far to many intellectually challenged, psychologically disturbed and ideologically damage victims left in their wake that need serious therapy.
  
  Report this comment
- The-Right-Rider
  Posted on March 27, 2013 at 9:55am
  @JROOK
  
  Nice red herring you got there.
  
  Report this comment
ktmrider1
Posted on March 22, 2013 at 11:45am
I couldn’t care less what people do to each other but when it is stuck in my face “excuse the pun” every day as though we are supposed to accept it as normal behavier? sorry, it is nothing more than mental illness

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- erik_ruddock
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 1:49pm
  preople like you is why the media mocks an discredits libertarians.
  
  its not stuck in your face, if you dont like gay marriage dont have one.
  
  Report this comment
- Liz-of-Arc
  Posted on March 26, 2013 at 2:25pm
  You are right. It is nothing more than a personal sex choice.
  I am sick of hearing about gays from the daily NEWS.
  Gays need to take their sex life back to the closed bedroom
  where it belongs.
  
  Report this comment
- The-Right-Rider
  Posted on March 27, 2013 at 9:56am
  @erik_ruddock
  
  If you don’t like people who disagree with you over gay marriage, don’t post as such on the blaze.
  
  :)
  
  Report this comment
Ghandi was a Republican
Posted on March 22, 2013 at 11:21am
Who cares if the next person is gay? I couldn’t care any less. The only kind of homosexual i care about is the alinsky radical kind and the kind that are exploited at large by alinsky community organizers who disengage them from the mainstream as an organizing tactic.
I have never heard a conservative that would advocate anything but equal rights for all. Marriage does not happen to be a ‘right’. marriage is an Institution under attack for devious purposes.
It is the alinsky radicals who make false claims so they can then demonize what they hope to become a perceived enemy by 10% of the population. THAT’s what community organizing is. That’s what they have done to blacks, women (now) who fall for it. That’s what they do. Divide by any means. “Divided we fall” is their favorite motto.

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dnewton
Posted on March 22, 2013 at 11:21am
If the conversion therapy has a low success rate, maybe one should wait for it to be covered by Obamacare so we don’t waste money on it. The more healthcare available, the more healthy we will be…right?

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TheGrtDcptn
Posted on March 22, 2013 at 10:42am
Of course they want the ban, while they recruit YOUR child(ren) in schools…

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HarryPotter
Posted on March 22, 2013 at 10:25am
If I marketed a headache cure which actually caused people to break out in boils, and made their hair fall out, why should the government get involved and stop my practice? It might stop someone’s headache, you never know. The government needs to get out of our lives and leave our freedoms alone!

Sounds pretty ridiculous, right? This is what you are saying by being in favor of these “gay conversion therapies”. They do not and cannot work, and are known to cause depression and even suicide.

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- symphonic
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 10:49am
  Better to go into heaven maimed, right?
  
  Jesus said: Matt. 18: 8 Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.
  
  9 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into ahell fire.
  
  Gays need to pluck out that eye, so to speak. You are wrong sir, to think that you can decide how to make immorality right. It can’t be done, and there is hell to pay as a price for those who do insist on it.
  
  Report this comment
- HarryPotter
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 10:58am
  Symphonic:
  
  1: we are talking about secular laws here, so religious arguments hold no ground.
  2: regardless of your opinion on the morality of homosexuality, the reality is that this “therapy” does not work, and leads to depression and sometimes even suicide.
  3: I never said I could make immorality right, I said being gay was not immoral. If you want to try and twist the words of the Bible to support bigotry, fine, but don’t tell other people that they have to change an immutable characteristic about themselves to match your own distorted views.
  
  Report this comment
- TheGrtDcptn
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 11:07am
  Who are you to speak for everyone…?!…If a child/adult wants to consider such therapy, they should have that right. A parent has the right to raise their children as they deem, not by YOUR standards. I don’t agree with the ban, I believe that if a child is involved, that child, as well as his/her parents should be the ONLY ones to decide if reparative therapy is a viable option for their family. I do not condone force of said therapy, it should be sought only if the family, as a whole, choose to participate…If, at any point the person involved seeks to stop attending, for whatever reason, their decision should be respected. No one should be forced to attend, nor should anyone be banned from seeking out reparative therapy…That is FREEDOM…
  
  Report this comment
- HarryPotter
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 11:27am
  Thegrtdcn:
  
  Children have a right to be protected from abuse, even passive abuse like this. If a parent decided not to treat a child’s illness or injury, and just to pray over them, the government would step in. You have the right to raise your child with your own beliefs, until those beliefs harm the child. This is one such case.
  
  And did you see my example above? We have regulations for harmful drugs and practices like these. I’m usually all for the freedom to do what you want with your own body and mind. But if someone is looking for help, and is being lied to and given “therapy” that will only cause harm, the government has a duty to step in and put a stop to it.
  
  Report this comment
- tzion
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 12:06pm
  If you marketed such a product, under civil law you would be held liable for the injuries caused by it. That’s why people don’t market fake products. If the procedure caused any of the things you claim it does then the person affected or their next of kin should be able to hold the person liable. Has that happened or did you just make up those facts?
  
  Report this comment
- jeffile
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 12:28pm
  I’m sure therapy is of little value since one’s sexual status is deeply ingrained. Perhaps therapy does not work. I’m sure therapy has little or no effect on pedophiles other than showing them the need to repress their desires. Does that mean pedophiles are born that way? I’d have to insist those who believe homosexuality is not a choice have to also agree pedophilia is also not a choice and thus should be an accepted way of life. Do you really think therapy could resolve a person’s desire for sado-masochism, having odd sexual fantasies or other sexual fetishes?
  
  Report this comment
- HarryPotter
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 12:28pm
  Tzion:
  
  There are many people, especially youth, who have committed suicide after or during these “therapies”. And I agree, the “therapists” should be held accountable for manslaughter and be in prison. But they are not because our nation still does not recognize equality for LGBT people, and bias and discrimination is still rampant. Feel free to look up the actual statistics online.
  
  Report this comment
- TheGrtDcptn
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 12:41pm
  ‘If you want to try and twist the words of the Bible to support bigotry, fine’
  
  Romans 1:26-28 ‘For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature, and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.’
  
  Care to dispel God’s word…? The above verse, taken from the NEW Testament speaks clearly against same-sex.
  
  ‘men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men’…’God gave them up to a debased mind’
  
  The only argument you have is that YOU do not believe in GOD…period. All you have is name-calling for those who disagree with you and your own distorted views.
  
  ‘Children have a right to be protected from abuse, even passive abuse like this.’
  
  I will look for you to speak out against pedophilia when they start fighting for their ‘civil rights’…
  
  Report this comment
- HarryPotter
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 12:44pm
  Jeffile:
  
  I do happen to think that pedophiles are born with that attraction, but that does not mean we should allow them to molest children. Their actions physically harm someone else, and cannot be permitted. A consensual adult relationship harms no one. And as for fetishes, as long as it is all consensual, who cares?
  
  Report this comment
- HarryPotter
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 12:56pm
  Thegrtdcptn:
  
  Please see me earlier comments about pedophiles. And you have one verse from the New Testament which speaks of homosexuality, and not a quote by Christ either, but by a later follower. Again, if you want to base all your hatred and bigotry off of one verse in a book that quotes a fallible man, was written by another fallible man, and has been recopied, translated and rewritten countless times, then feel free. That just makes no sense to me. I just have a problem when you try to use this bigotry to deny equal rights or to convince the naive that they need to change an immutable characteristic about themselves.
  
  And for the record, I am Agnostic. I neither believe not disbelieve in God. I hold the Bible to be a message of love, but as it was written by man, I do no scrutinize over the words, or try and attribute them to a creator.
  
  Report this comment
- tzion
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 12:57pm
  @harry
  I specifically said that one would have a CIVIL case, not a criminal one. Numerous medicines on the market, including ones intended to treat depression, carry the warning of “may increase chances of suicidal thoughts and tendencies”. If someone commits suicide while in treatment that is NOT manslaughter. At best you could argue that the people providing this service must by law warn their customers that there have been cases of suicide but they aren’t criminals by any definition. This isn’t about equal rights for LGBT, you want them to be able to do what the rest of us can’t.
  
  Look up the definition of manslaughter. Manslaughter is where I fail to secure something heavy and it falls and kills someone. A key part of manslaughter is that it involves a mistake being made in safety. This case doesn’t have that.
  
  Report this comment
- HarryPotter
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 1:44pm
  Tzion:
  
  Perhaps I was reaching and exaggerating a bit, but honestly, I was not far off. If a drug treats depression, but a small number of people have a negative response to it, a warning label is needed. If it actually does nothing to curb depression, but instead leads the majority of users into depression, then it needs to be removed from the market, and the creator needs to face more than just a slap on the wrist legally.
  
  Report this comment
- TheGrtDcptn
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 3:11pm
  ‘And you have one verse from the New Testament which speaks of homosexuality, and not a quote by Christ either’…’one verse in a book that quotes a fallible man, was written by another fallible man’
  
  Well, if that is the stance we’re taking, then we can discredit everything written by fallible man from the beginning of time. But…that is NOT what you are doing, you only discredit what is written in the Bible because it isn’t convenient for you. Why should I believe in what a few (fallible) men from the APA say or write, they surely wouldn’t lie…or would they…?!
  
  Your Truth…
  Bible = bigotry, written by fallible man…
  APA = truth, written by fallible man…
  
  …you can keep your lies…
  
  Report this comment
- HarryPotter
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 3:58pm
  Thegrtdcbn:
  
  I never said the Bible was bigotry. I actually think that it is a wonderful book about love. But there are people who use obscure passages to support bigotry. I am advocating following scientists and other doctors who have studied the human body and human mind for decades and all come to the same conclusion about this “therapy”. You are advocating ignoring all of this modern research and studies in favor of a single passage written nearly 2000 years ago.
  
  Report this comment
- tzion
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 4:00pm
  If a druggist knowingly markets a false and dangerous product then yes they are charged as a criminal. This treatment hasn’t been proven to be exclusively harmful and hasn’t been proven ineffective. Moreover, those providing it genuinely believe they are helping. If you could prove it was their intention to do harm or that they used clearly dangerous techniques without proper caution, then you can charge them as criminals. Anything short of that is just you trying to control other people.
  
  Report this comment
- HarryPotter
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 4:21pm
  Tzion:
  
  I do think that these “therapists” are legitimately trying to help people. Just like a mother who refuses to get her child medicine and insists on praying over him instead. She is also full of good intentions, but causing her child harm nonetheless (or allowing him to come to harm through neglect). And there is not one legitimate study that shows that anyone can change their sexual orientation. There are a couple done by Christian organizations which started with bias, and did not follow accepted scientific procedures. There are also a myriad of examples of the negative effects of this “therapy”. Far too many youth have committed suicide during or after these sessions. Mental health professionals also are in agreement that this “therapy” only causes harm.
  
  Report this comment
- TheGrtDcptn
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 6:02pm
  ‘I am advocating following scientists and other doctors who have studied the human body and human mind for decades and all come to the same conclusion’
  
  Man is either fallible…or he is not. You can not have it both ways…period.
  
  Bible = fallible man
  ‘scientists and other doctors’ = ???
  
  Timothy 4:3 ‘For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.’
  
  If followers of Christ are bigots, what does that say for Christ…?!
  
  Report this comment
LEFT_NY_4_GOOD
Posted on March 22, 2013 at 10:16am
All kidding aside, as soon as the Government gets involved in anything it winds up costing the taxpayers allot of money. Who gives a rats arse what the government thinks about the gay issue anyway.
What does that have to do with the sole responsibility of the government. Absolutely nothing

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LEFT_NY_4_GOOD
Posted on March 22, 2013 at 10:07am
I quote the above article “with some charging that it leaves gay men and women emotionally damaged.”
Isn’t that an oxymoron. I can hear the hate mail now from Hillary Clinton :)

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DontStopBelieving
Posted on March 22, 2013 at 9:46am
I think people are born this way, I don’t think they wake up one day and say hey, I think I’d like to be gay. Most know it at an early age, some probably fight it, but for the most part, they know. IMO if a person is gay and wants to be gay no conversion therapy is going to help, however, I don’t think it should be banned simply because I don’t think the government should be involved in this or gay marriage for that matter, but that’s another issue. If some people want to go through the therapy for whatever reason, they should have the right to do so.

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- ktmrider1
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 11:50am
  yes correct people are born. their consious and being however is a learned thing, they learned to be gay by being perverted apon or now being indoctrinated by the teaching environment
  
  Report this comment
- Eastinfection
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 4:48pm
  You are born predispositioned to a variety of things.
  
  Where you stick those things is up to you.
  
  Report this comment
HarryPotter
Posted on March 22, 2013 at 9:39am
More states need to be doing this. You cannot change an innate part of yourself. This just leads to depression and possibly even suicide when someone realizes that they can’t change like they were promised. The therapy needs to be letting these people know that there is nothing wrong with being gay, that they live just as full a life and do everything a straight person can.

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- tzion
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 12:11pm
  In that case, if one cannot change the innate part of themselves, then one cannot change the nature of a repeat murderer by imprisoning him. Be better off just to kill him and put an end to it. By that same argument we should at the very least give sex offenders of all sorts minimum life sentences since they will never change and cannot be safely readmitted into society.
  
  Our entire justice system is built around the idea that people’s behavior can be changed to some extent and yet now you’re telling us people have no freedom of choice?
  
  Report this comment
- HarryPotter
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 12:35pm
  Tzion:
  
  People certainly can choose how they act. And we do need to stop actions that are harmful to other people. But this “therapy” is trying to change someone’s sexual orientation. Could you change your sexual orientation? Could you suddenly decide to no longer be attracted to the opposite gender and decide to be attracted to your own gender? By your logic here, people should be able to change their behavior and become tall, or white. They just have to change how the behave, and learn not to act short or black. You cannot change the immutable characteristics about yourself. And telling people that they can change will only cause psychological and mental harm.
  
  Report this comment
- tzion
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 1:03pm
  @harry
  There are people in this world who genuinely enjoy smoking, binge eating, and numerous other behaviors that aren’t healthy. Most of these people never change but recently I’ve been hearing about people who, after being told their behavior threatened their health, actually sought out hypnotists to help them break these habits. From my perspective this is no different than sexual preferences. One cannot change physical aspects about themselves of course, but there is nothing that physically different about a gay man and a straight one. Your comparison is like comparing lighting to turtles.
  
  Report this comment
- HarryPotter
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 1:52pm
  Tzion:
  
  I understand your premise, but sexual orientation is very different from an addition to cigarettes, which has chemical causes in the body, and eating disorders, which also have known chemical and biological causes. It’s like comparing turtles to lightning. Even if you were to argue that this is the same, you are not changing someone’s affinity for junk food, you are just changing their eating habits.
  
  Also, smoking and eating poorly are detrimental to your health. Homosexuality is not. There is no reason to even need to try and change your sexual orientation.
  
  Report this comment
- tzion
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 3:17pm
  Um, last I checked sexual attraction included chemical and biological responses as much as food or tobacco, if not even more so. Besides, the procedure I described was hypnosis, which wouldn’t treat any chemical dependencies, only the psychological aspect. It does have the power to help people overcome their urges and even to remove the need altogether. And what is sexual attraction but an urge brought on by certain chemical responses?
  
  As for health effects, obviously there’s nothing about homosexuality itself that causes individual personal health problems. But why should that matter? Plastic surgery places people’s lives in danger every single day for no other reason than to produce minor, or sometimes major, changes in ones external appearance. In fact, while they haven’t made people taller yet, I’m sure they will one day start doing just that. Should that be illegal because it places people in unnecessary danger?
  
  Perhaps you should research the cause of sexual attraction in humans. Purely chemical and biological in nature. The urge to be intimate in no different than the urge to eat or sleep.
  
  Report this comment
- HarryPotter
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 4:01pm
  Tzion:
  
  I think you are oversimplifying a bit, but if everything you said is accurate, then why should we be trying to change gays in the first place?
  
  Report this comment
- tzion
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 4:15pm
  @Harry
  First of all, assuming the procedure works, I’d assume that a key factor in its success is the willingness of the patient to change their orientation. Therapy in this case likely includes using hypnotic suggestion, which cannot force someone to do anything they’re opposed to, and perhaps some level of conditioning, which would likely require the subject’s cooperation.
  
  Second, who says it’s not the gays that are asking for ways to change? Just because you say it’s okay to be gay doesn’t mean everyone is going to want to be gay.
  
  Report this comment
- HarryPotter
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 4:26pm
  Tzion:
  
  I would say almost every gay person alive has gone through a period where the did not want to be gay. I personally spent years actively trying to change my sexual orientation. These people who may seek out this “therapy” need to be shown that there is nothing wrong with being gay, and that there are many gay people out there who live normal, happy and fulfilling lives. We should not be letting a group of people cause them further mental anguish. Please read my conversation with Locked below for more on this.
  
  Report this comment
- The-Right-Rider
  Posted on March 27, 2013 at 10:07am
  @HARRY POTTER
  
  If i understand you correctly, you are saying that there is nothing wrong with being gay, because you yourself are gay and find nothing wrong with it?
  
  Isn’t that the equivalent of a compulsive smoker saying there is nothing wrong with smoking, because they have smoked for years and are perfectly fine?
  
  Report this comment
lhills
Posted on March 22, 2013 at 9:20am
First, it doesn’t matter if it works. Parents have to maintain the right to seek out the religious and moral training of their choosing. When we lose that right, it’s all over folks. Secondly, Part of the reason many people believe gays can’t change is that everytime we hear about someone who used to be gay we say “they went through a phase” or “they were experimenting.”. It’s easy to say that practicing homosexuals can’t change when we dismiss every instance of change by saying “they weren’t really gay to behin with.” I have met two people who said that a similar therapy worked for them after they became Christians. I believe God can work all sort of changes in repenting heart. We shouldn’t dismiss these therapies just because they don’t work for everyone,

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Sargeking
Posted on March 22, 2013 at 9:13am
Having “two minds” on any position is mindless. It is illogical in the most classic Vulcan sense. The old politicos used to call this common derangement, “straddling the fence”. That’s what RINOS do and look at all the trouble their positions have caused.

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woodyee
Posted on March 22, 2013 at 9:08am
Gay Conversion Therapy Ban Proposed in NJ — But Will Gov. Chris Christie Support It?

Yes. Humpty will dump all principals for a crack at 2016, which will not be coming for ANY Repub. He’s got as much loyalty to the Repub party or conservative standards as Lindsay Grahamnesty, Olympia Snow, Susan Collins or Jumping Jim Jeffords. He’d vote DemonicRat for a ham sandwich.

Blue blood (Loser) Repubs are in full control of the party, as exemplified by the turning of Farce O’Rubio and Rand “No Stand” Paul. These guys will assist the Blue-Bloods in setting amnesty in concrete, thus securing Repub losses for decades to come. They will lose the house in 2014 opening the door for a possible seizure of power by DemonicRats.

Remember, the Black slaves lost by the DemonicRat party in 1865. In 1965, the Blacks were purchased with tax dollars by DemonicRats via The Welfare Act, and they’ve been selling themselves into financial slavery since. The DemonicRats purchased Public Unions with tax dollars, and tax dollars are being used to buy the victims of DemonicRat-created unemployment. The illegal alien vote, via amnesty, will be purchased with tax dollars.

And tax dollars are being used to oppress Free men.

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- ashestoashes
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 9:19am
  Homosexuality is a choice..a mother once told me..”I think my 9 yr old son may be gay and I hope he is because I would like a best friend..Yes..they walk among us..If children are taught that thoughts come to us and that we have the choice of rejecting or accepting that thought..and they are taught God’s word about homosexuality and all of the other choices which will deny them eternal life..then that child should be able to grow up to make the right choices..1Corinthians 6:9 reads who will enter the kingdom..and who will not….Jesus said..”I did not come to judge the world..but to save it..My word judges you” If you don’t believe it..then you have nothing to fear…right?
  
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- woodyee
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 9:39am
  That was good, Ashes.
  
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- HarryPotter
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 9:56am
  Ashes:
  
  There is nothing wrong with being gay. Nothing any less healthy, moral or acceptable than being straight. If you truly think that you can choose your sexual orientation, then I challenge you to choose to be gay for a day. Spend 24 hours attracted to your own gender. I’m not asking you to have sex, but for a whole day only be attracted to your own gender. If you can’t do this, how do you expect gay people to choose?
  
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- ComradeJ
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 12:04pm
  @Harrypotter,
  
  Dear Harry, why do you keep repeating your opinion when it has already been debunked so many times? All you ever say in response is more of your opinion.
  
  In accordance with Einstein’s definition of insanity, you confirm the preposition of many here that homosexuality is a mental illness. Is this really your goal?
  
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- HarryPotter
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 12:46pm
  Comeradej:
  
  I’m sorry, I didn’t realize that my sound logical arguments had been debunked. Please share how my logic or reasoning is wrong.
  
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- The-Right-Rider
  Posted on March 27, 2013 at 9:51am
  @HARRY POTTER
  
  Apparently, you lack the rudimentary understanding to interpret the difference between an opinion grounded in bias and a statement rooted in logical fact.
  
  Nothing you have said thus far (nothing wrong with being gay, etc) has any legitimate or logical premise. It’s the akin of saying that i am being “logical” for stating that roses make me happy, therefore i have a right to roses all the time.
  
  You are the blaze equvalent of a town drunk, expectorating silly statements that have no bearing on, or resemblance to, higher discourse.
  
  Stop trolling here and go back to HUFFPO. They can always use another lost case.
  
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Locked
Posted on March 22, 2013 at 8:31am
While I’m of the opinion that this kind of “therapy” can cause more harm than good, that doesn’t mean it should be banned. Homeopathic medicine is much the same, but it is not banned. If someone advocated using crystals to “cure homosexuality,” would that be banned? Unlikely. Face it: therapy is hit-or-miss in the first place. AA, for example, has less than a 10% success rate; don’t you think that those who “fail” at AA will also suffer blows to their self-esteem? I imagine the same result comes from “failed” conversion therapy… but no one’s clamoring to ban AA.

As long as false claims aren’t made by the therapists, I see no reason why this practice should be banned. Just let people know the facts: this isn’t recognized by most medical associations and it has an extremely low rate of success. Then let the consumer decide.

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- Eastinfection
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 8:46am
  I agree, LOCKED
  
  I think this stuff is phony-baloney but i have no problem with it existing.
  
  If somebody wanted to start offering “therapy” to convert straights to being gay…. while i doubt the program would be all that popular, it’d would have the right to exist.
  
  Hey- some people think WWE is real… who am i to tell them otherwise?
  
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- Locked
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 9:03am
  @East
  
  “Hey- some people think WWE is real… who am i to tell them otherwise?”
  
  I… wait… wha-? You mean it’s… no. NO!
  
  Nooooo!
  
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- HarryPotter
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 9:32am
  Locked:
  
  The only reason I disagree is because of kids. Gay youth are being forced in these “conversion therapy” sessions by their parents. This frankly is little more than child abuse. They are being told that they can change an innate part of themselves. This has been proven to lead to depression and suicide. I understand your point from an adult standpoint, but this should never be allowed for gay youth.
  
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- Locked
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 10:54am
  @Harrypotter
  
  I agree with your point for a slightly different reason: No one should ever be “forced” into this kind of therapy (especially since sexual orientation is not a dangerous medical condition), and since children cannot legally consent, I agree that they should not be allowed to undergo this therapy until they are 18.
  
  But after that point? As said, let the consumers decide… so long as they have good information.
  
  From what I’ve read of even “the best” cases (ie, ones overseen by “professionals” and attended by people who legitimately want to change their orientation), the success rate is extremely low… less than 33%, if I recall correctly. And I don’t doubt that many of those “successes” were lying… either to those doing the surveys, or to themselves.
  
  My feeling? Work on the action, not the feeling. If someone feels being gay is sinful, then they should work on not having sex. I want fatty foods, but I know they’re not good for me, so I try my best to stay away. Working on willpower is the key… not changing who you are or what you feel.
  
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- HarryPotter
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 11:22am
  Locked:
  
  Once again, we see almost eye to eye. For me, keeping kids from being forced into it is most important. But I also think it should be banned for adults too. Yes, people should have the freedom to choose, but if I said I had a miracle cure for cancer that really made all your hair fall out, should the government step in to stop me? Or should people have the freedom to choose as long as they are getting the truth from some places and lies from me? “Therapies” like this are well know. To cause actual harm. They lead to depression and thoughts of suicide. They do not work. And besides, there is nothing wrong with being gay anyway. There is a reason that the FDA is in place, to provide a standard, and to keep harmful medicines off the market. This “therapy” falls into that category.
  
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- Locked
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 11:47am
  @Harrypotter
  
  “Yes, people should have the freedom to choose, but if I said I had a miracle cure for cancer that really made all your hair fall out, should the government step in to stop me?”
  
  If the medical cure was advertised as “this might or might not work,” and the risks are talked about, yes. As said – it’s up to the person to decide to risk it or not. Buyer beware.
  
  ““Therapies” like this are well know. To cause actual harm. They lead to depression and thoughts of suicide. They do not work.”
  
  This may or may not be true; as said, some studies have been shown to succeed. Are those who are being studied being honest? I can’t say for sure – I have my doubts, but in a “I say this, you say that” situation, if it’s MY attraction, who are YOU to say you know better than me?
  
  “And besides, there is nothing wrong with being gay anyway.”
  
  If all people thought this way, there’d be no reason for this kind of therapy; but humans hold many views. You might think being gay is fine, but some other folks don’t. As an example, you and I might think being bald is fine… but that doesn’t stop millions of people dropping hundreds of millions of dollars every year on anti-balding medicines that don’t do anything. Is their self-esteem hurt when these methods fail? Probably. But it’s their choice to throw away their money on self-esteem issues… and it’s not the government’s place to control their behavior.
  
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- HarryPotter
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 12:24pm
  Locked:
  
  This is why I like you. You are logical, and open to hearing someone else’s thoughts. I think we are getting even closer to eye to eye, but not quite ;)
  
  To be honest, I am a little uncertain on the details of this issue. If someone legitimately wants to try to change their sexual orientation (even though you can’t) and recognizes and accepts the risks behind it, does anyone have the right to stop them? But at the same time, the need to protect people is important. For instance, we require people to wear seat belts. We ban drugs that have bad side effects or do not work. Isn’t this the same?
  
  Mental health professionals agree that this practice is harmful to a person’s psychological and mental health. The only people advocating it are people with some religious dogma as their basis. There is no legitimate science showing that this works and nothing to show that people should even try. We should be helping these people realize that there is nothing wrong with being gay, rather than try to change who they are. And the other big problem is that people are not being told that this may or may not work (which it won’t work), they are being told that it will work if you try hard enough, a lie.
  
  So in the end, I think I am opposed to allowing this “therapy” at all. Freedoms are important, even freedoms to do stupid things. But sometimes you have to keep people from harming themselves by doing these stupid things.
  
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- Locked
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 1:25pm
  @Harrypotter
  
  I don’t think we’ll ever see perfectly eye-to-eye, but I’m more than happy to have civil discourse!
  
  “Mental health professionals agree that this practice is harmful to a person’s psychological and mental health. The only people advocating it are people with some religious dogma as their basis.”
  
  Again, my response would be “What about AA?” You can argue it’s not blatantly religious, but AA does insist you have a “higher power.” It also has an absolutely atrocious success rate… and again, can be harmful to someone with low self-esteem who sees this as their last chance. We know that alcoholism alters brain chemistry, so saying this actually treats the problem is a lie. But no one is clamoring to ban AA, right?
  
  “We should be helping these people realize that there is nothing wrong with being gay”
  
  But for some folks, they think it IS wrong to be gay. It’s not your view, but it’s out there. And it’s not the government’s place to stop people who want to try and change it. We force folks who claim they’re men trapped in women’s bodies to accept themselves rather than have a sex change, for example.
  
  “But sometimes you have to keep people from harming themselves by doing these stupid things.”
  
  That will likely be the sticking point. I’m fine with people trying to keep others from harming themselves… but not with the government forcing them to do so. It’s not the government’s job to save us from ourselves.
  
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- Locked
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 2:00pm
  Should have been “We DON’T force folks who claim they’re men trapped in women’s bodies to accept themselves rather than have a sex change, for example.”
  
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- HarryPotter
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 2:06pm
  Locked:
  
  I think that the main issue is that there is no reason to try and change gay people. Yes, some people think that there is a problem, and they are certainly entitled to their opinion, but if someone is seeking therapy, this is different. If someone seeks out therapy to stop being gay, they need to know that being gay is not a choice, that there are plenty of gay people out there living normal, happy, fulfilling lives. Again, therapy needs to be grounded in scientific mental health studies, not religion. If someone legitimately wants help, they should get the help they need. They should not be led further astray with lies and phony psychology. If someone went to a therapist and asked them to change him into a right-handed person, should the therapist try and change them, or find out why they can’t accept being left-handed and help them realize that plenty of people are left-handed, live normal lives, and that there is nothing wrong with them?
  
  As for protection against stupidity, with further thought, this seems to be more along this lines of taking advantage of someone at a weak moment. This is more along the lines of a horny frat boy taking home a naive freshman girl whose friends are pressuring her into losing her virginity even though she is uncomfortable. Sure, it’s not technically rape, but it’s rather despicable.
  
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- Locked
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 2:39pm
  @Harrypotter
  
  “I think that the main issue is that there is no reason to try and change gay people. Yes, some people think that there is a problem, and they are certainly entitled to their opinion, but if someone is seeking therapy, this is different.”
  
  But again – if it’s that person’s choice to try and change their sexual orientation, why is the government supposed to stop them? If I had cancer I’d be stupid to use healing crystals and forgo chemotherapy, but does that means the government should outlaw healing crystals? What if a person just doesn’t want chemo? Do we force them into treatment?
  
  “Again, therapy needs to be grounded in scientific mental health studies, not religion. If someone legitimately wants help, they should get the help they need.”
  
  And some studies have been published on the topic and show that some patients were able to change their sexual orientation. Sure, it’s possible they’re lying; but there are some results there. But that’s a silly criteria; we’ve never showed that drinking viper’s blood is a cure of ED, but we do outlaw people trying it? No; we simply say it’s not approved. I’m saying the same here: be honest and say it’s not approved by the APA, but it’s overreach to ban it.
  
  “Sure, it’s not technically rape, but it’s rather despicable.”
  
  In this example, it seems you’d prefer the frat boy be charged with rape, despite her saying yes, because of peer pressure? I don’t agree…
  
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- TheGrtDcptn
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 3:52pm
  ‘Mental health professionals agree that this practice is harmful to a person’s psychological and mental health. The only people advocating it are people with some religious dogma as their basis.’…’Again, therapy needs to be grounded in scientific mental health studies, not religion.’
  
  Now it’s okay to believe in what fallible man says, writes…?!
  
  …you are disingenuous…
  
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- HarryPotter
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 4:13pm
  Locked:
  
  You continue to make some excellent points. In my last point, I wouldn’t want the feat boy charged with rape, but it is still rather despicable, as is trying to change someone who is gay. And I we ban vipers blood, why not ban this equally ineffective “therapy”. Shouldn’t people still be able to buy it and be stupid? I’m not saying people can’t try to change their sexual orientation, I’m saying this “therapy” shouldn’t be available as a legitimate practice.
  
  In the end, I completely agree with what you have said, but I think it should still be banned. The only part I feel strongly about though is that youth aren’t ever forced into it. As long as there is a ban for children under 18, like I California I believe, I won’t care that much.
  
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- Locked
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 5:01pm
  @Harrypotter
  
  “but it is still rather despicable, as is trying to change someone who is gay.”
  
  You might find it so, and many others will as well. That still doesn’t mean it’s the government’s place to make it illegal. It’s the same reason I’m against labeling abortion as “murder;” will some abortions be done for convenience? Sure. But is there legitimate medical need too? Yes. We don’t want government overreaching.
  
  “I’m not saying people can’t try to change their sexual orientation, I’m saying this “therapy” shouldn’t be available as a legitimate practice.”
  
  This seems, to me, to contradict itself. “You can try being straight by yourself, but if someone who’s a therapist helps you, they go to jail”? Again, it seems an overreach: state the facts, let the consumer decide.
  
  “In the end, I completely agree with what you have said, but I think it should still be banned.”
  
  And as said, I don’t think we’ll see eye-to-eye, because we likely have different views on what the role of government should be. A sucker’s born every minute, and short of killing everyone you’re not going to stop everyone from hurting themselves if they choose to do so!
  
  “The only part I feel strongly about though is that youth aren’t ever forced into it. As long as there is a ban for children under 18, like I California I believe, I won’t care that much.”
  
  Seems a fair place of agreement to me. Have a blessed weekend!
  
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vaman
Posted on March 22, 2013 at 8:22am
This is something concocted by radical christians hate mongers. The theory and practice have never worked, contrary to what the organizations have said. In reality, it causes far more damage than good. But when dealing with christian radicals, this is what normal people have to tolerate. Now, in the case of children being sent to these evil places, the parents should be arrested and their kids removed from the household permanently. Every legitimate medical organization in the world has denounced this practice. Christian “family” groups encourage this “therapy”, so that is a clear indication that it is not based in science or have any possibility of success. Many states have banned the practice already.

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- Eastinfection
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 8:28am
  Doesn’t matter if it works or not.
  People should be able to purchase whatever product they desire… even if it’s a piece of junk.
  
  A lot of people think getting hypnotized to quit smoking is BS…. should we ban that, too?
  
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- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 8:35am
  EAST, in my opinion, it is more of an attack on the 1st Amendment and freedom of speech. Another thing, there has to be a willing participant regarding any homosexual person involved. It is not as if a white van pulls up and a gang of strong arm kidnappers leap out on an unsuspecting person on the street. And, there have been plenty who have converted to heterosexual although usually on their own accord.
  
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- Gonzo
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 8:41am
  I guess it didn’t work for you then VAman?
  
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- Wisdom7
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 8:56am
  ” In reality, it causes far more damage than good.”
  
  LOL
  
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Gonzo
Posted on March 22, 2013 at 8:22am
If people want to undergo GCT they should be allowed to.

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Zipit
Posted on March 22, 2013 at 8:16am
I guess my question is; Why would, or should the government be involved in this BS anyhow! Unless some idiot is looking at legislation that would provide taxpayer money, or to pass a law, or create regulation requiring insurance companies to provide coverage for this, then stay the hell out of people’s personal lives!!!! MY GOD! With all the crap going on in our dysfunctional country and the world, this is what somebody thinks is important??????? WTF

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- Gonzo
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 8:37am
  It’s all designed to remove any notion that homosexuality is abnormal.
  
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- termyt
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 10:07am
  Agreed. I’m sure this therapy has helped some and been a dismal failure for others. What business is it of government?
  
  What I object to is the reasoning behind such a law in the first place. It is saying that the government knows what is best for a minor than their parents do. That’s extremely arrogant and counter to our principles.
  
  Name one positive thing government does better than the private sector. Just one.
  
  For bureaucrats in a far off capitol to say they know better than a parent what is going to help their children is all kinds of wrong.
  
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SpankDaMonkey
Posted on March 22, 2013 at 8:03am
.
Gay Conversion Therapy the Iranian way “SuperGlue”…..I hear it works eveytime……

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Eastinfection
Posted on March 22, 2013 at 8:02am
Gay Conversion Therapy is for suckers.

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- Eastinfection
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 4:52pm
  … c’mon…
  
  nobody?
  
  it’s been almost nine hours.
  
  Think about it folks….
  
  Gay Conversion Therapy is for “suckers”… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CdVTCDdEwI
  
  do i hear a giggle?
  
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- Witness1974
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 6:20pm
  You didn’t need to explain. You got a laugh out me, as you frequently do.
  
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jackact
Posted on March 22, 2013 at 7:53am
Christie would respond the way any RINO would to this politically correct indoctrination…..with open arms, actually fooling himself into thinking he has tapped into the ‘gay vote’.
These feckless fools will never learn.
Next up, Christie takes Spanish language lessons……
We are going to have to force the changes necessary to bring constitutional conservatism to the front of the GOP.
There is no other way.
If only McCain and the gang would just disappear……
Soon.

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ArmedAndReallyPissed
Posted on March 22, 2013 at 7:48am
Now there’s two subjects in the same headline that i couldn’t care less about. Gay Conversations and Gov. Chrispy Creme.

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ColoradoMaverick
Posted on March 22, 2013 at 7:48am
I personally think that you can’t change a person being gay. You cannot make them straight. But if we allow people to have sex changes or gender reassignment as the PC police would have us say, this is a free country and if someone is “on the fence” and wants to have this therapy, who are we to tell them no. The problem with liberals is that they want to tell us what we can and cannot do.

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- SaturdaysWarrior76
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 8:02am
  Yes, this! Well said.
  
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- Locked
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 8:22am
  That’s actually very well stated. Frankly, I don’t think that government should be in the business of banning things wily-nily. Sure, conversion therapy “may” cause emotional damage, but I imagine it’s similar to the emotional damage suffered by alcoholics when they fall off the AA wagon again (which, considering less than 10% off AA members remain sober, you’d think AA would be banned?).
  
  Just make it so people know the facts: it’s a very small amount of people who go through this therapy and after claim that they’ve lost all homosexual attraction. It’s not endorsed by most major medical associations, but if someone thinks it might help them… why ban it?
  
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