{"id":1756,"date":"2012-12-05T11:02:00","date_gmt":"2012-12-05T11:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/judge-blocks-calif-gay-therapy-law-over-free-speech-concerns\/"},"modified":"2012-12-05T11:02:00","modified_gmt":"2012-12-05T11:02:00","slug":"judge-blocks-calif-gay-therapy-law-over-free-speech-concerns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2012\/12\/judge-blocks-calif-gay-therapy-law-over-free-speech-concerns\/","title":{"rendered":"Judge blocks Calif. ‘gay therapy’ law over free speech concerns"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Sacramento, Calif., Dec 5, 2012 \/ 04:02 am (CNA<\/a>).- A federal judge has temporarily blocked a California law that bars therapy to change the behaviors or orientations of those with same-sex attractions under 18, ruling that a lawsuit against it will likely succeed on free speech grounds.<\/p>\n

\tOpponents of the law praised Monday\u2019s ruling.<\/p>\n

\tBrad Dacus, President of the Sacramento-based Pacific Justice Institute, said Dec. 3 that the decision \u201csends a clear signal to all those who feel they can stifle religious freedom, free speech and the rights of parents without being contested.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tOn Sept. 29 California Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law S.B. 1172, a broadly worded law that bars any therapy \u201cto change behaviors or gender expressions, or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward individuals of the same sex\u201d among minors. The law applies even if a minor and his or her parents desire the therapy.<\/p>\n

\tU.S. District Court Judge William Shubb ruled on Dec. 3 that the plaintiffs are \u201clikely to succeed\u201d with their claims that the law violates their First Amendment rights to freedom of speech.<\/p>\n

\tHe blocked the enforcement of the law against the plaintiffs until he could evaluate the case further. The plaintiffs are psychiatrist Anthony Duk, marriage and family therapist Donald Welch, and Aaron Bitzer, a former patient who intends to specialize in the kind of therapy affected by the law, the Associated Press reports.<\/p>\n

\tHomosexual advocates expressed disappointment with the ruling.<\/p>\n

\tBackers of the law charge that the therapies it bans are unproven and potentially harmful. They say the therapies may increase the risk of depression and suicide, and the California legislature agreed.<\/p>\n

\tHowever, the judge disputed the legislature\u2019s finding, saying it was based on \u201cquestionable and scientifically incomplete studies.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tBill May, President of the San Francisco-based Catholics for the Common Good, said in his view the law is \u201cunconstitutional on so many grounds.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tMay told CNA Dec. 4 that he was surprised the judge limited the injunction only to the three plaintiffs. He said the law abridges the right of physicians or psychologists to \u201cact in the interest of their patients based on their professional training and experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tHe added that the law prevents parents from seeking treatment for their children and prevents children from seeking treatment for \u201cunwanted same-sex attraction and gender confusion.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tAccording to May, the law would also affect Catholic counselors and bar them from \u201ctreating the whole person in accordance with their faith.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tOther plaintiffs are challenging the law. A federal judge in Sacramento is considering a legal challenge from four counselors, two families and a professional association of Christian counselors.<\/p>\n

\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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