[New Jersey outlaws conversion therapy for LGBT minors.]
Agudath Israel [of America] is “deeply disappointed and saddened that the State of New Jersey now prohibits therapists from treating minors who have made a personal choice to seek help overcoming same-sex attraction,” Agudath Israel said in a statement on Tuesday.
“The new law tramples on the rights of mental health therapists to engage freely in their profession, and it unfairly denies teenagers seeking therapy for issues that are troubling them the ability to obtain professional help.”
Calling it “constitutionally suspect” and a “threat to civil and religious liberties,” the haredi organization compared the New Jersey law to a similar measure in California “that has been challenged in court and whose implementation is currently blocked.”
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Therapists do not have carte blanche to engage in whatever treatment they want, regardless of efficacy or ethics. Reparative therapy doesn't work, could lead to more distress and problems for patients, and is contrary to the clinical guidelines and conception of homosexuality. Any provider attempting to use reparative therapy can and should lose their license to practice.
Conversion therapy is monstrous, it is cruel and unusual punishment for something genetic. That's like forcing a lefthander to use his right hand, and yes that does happen. Yet I doubt any of you would make a lefthander go though conversion therapy.
It's also illegal for a person to hire twenty thugs to work them over with bats and crowbars to turn themselves off of country and western music, but I don't see you trying to overturn that.
I mean I hate country and western and I'll be offended on a deeply personal level if somebody cranks the volume to my protests but I wouldn't permit torture over it. I can live with other people having an innate attraction to that genre.
It's being blocked because it causes depression and makes kids kill themselves. On top of that, it doesn't fucking work .
What about that sounds effective or therapeutic to you?
@KittyKaboom -
I've actually seen Haredi rabbis try to justify the dangerousness of conversion therapy. Basically, sexual transgressions are one of the three "cardinal sins" (along with idolatry and murder) which a Jew must give his life to avoid instead of committing it. So from that perspective, it's justified if a few kids off themselves because at least they didn't do any "abominable acts." (Never mind that suicide is also usually considered a sin...
As I understand it, once the patient is an adult, they can seek conversion therapy if they wish. New Jersey and California simply forbid such torture from being inflicted on minors.
Children are not the property of their parents, and since conversion therapy has such devastating psychological effects on its victims, the state is well within its rights to protect the most vulnerable among us.
"Conversion therapy" is a failure, at least "conversion therapy" as we know it. Besides, we non-fundies don't force you to disavow your religious convictions. Why force someone to change in a manner that they biologically can't even do?
Agudath Israel of America: "We are deeply disappointed and saddened that the State of New Jersey now prohibits therapists from treating minors who have made a personal choice to seek help overcoming same-sex attraction!"
Someone Else: "But the only reason they would see that same-sex attraction as something they need to overcome is because of the likes of you telling them they should feel that way!"
AIofA: "As it should be!"
SE: "Why?"
AIofA: "Because we think gay is ick...uhm, because God condemns same-sex attraction!"
SE: "Why does he?"
AIofA: "He's God! He doesn't have to justify Himself to us!! Our place is to OBEY, not to question, Him!!!"
[New Jersey outlaws conversion therapy for LHD minors.]
Agudath Israel [of America] is “deeply disappointed and saddened that the State of New Jersey now prohibits therapists from treating minors who have made a personal choice to seek help overcoming left-hand dominance,” Agudath Israel said in a statement on Tuesday.
“The new law tramples on the rights of mental health therapists to engage freely in their profession, and it unfairly denies teenagers seeking therapy for issues that are troubling them the ability to obtain professional help.”
Calling it “constitutionally suspect” and a “threat to civil and religious liberties,” the haredi organization compared the New Jersey law to a similar measure in California “that has been challenged in court and whose implementation is currently blocked.”
#1758664: That is seriously, painfully, sadly fucked up.
One day LGBT kids are going to be adults and in control of their own bodies and lives. It makes me incredibly sad that so many of them won't make it that far because of religiously-motivated harassment.
Confused?
So were we! You can find all of this, and more, on Fundies Say the Darndest Things!
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