California 'Ex-Gay' Therapy Bill Could Protect Patients Under 18 From Associated Harms

In what could be a potential blow to the "ex-gay" movement, a proposed California bill seeks to protect gay patients from the mental and physical harms of so-called "reparative" therapies.

Written by Sen. Ted Lieu and sponsored by the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) advocacy group Equality California, Senate Bill 1172 would force psychotherapists to tell gay patients about the various harms of undertaking any the so-called "gay therapies," according to LA Weekly.

Think Progress reports that the law would not outright ban all ex-gay therapy, but if passed, would prohibit anyone under the age of 18 from undergoing any sexual orientation change efforts. In addition, all therapists will also require a patient's consent before proceeding with the therapy.

Of course, the bill looks likely to face some fierce opposition. One witness at a hearing this week spoke on behalf of the National Association for the Research and Therapy of Homosexuality, or NARTH, citing two studies that have been debunked and disavowed, Think Progress notes.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/24/california-ex-gay-therapy-bill_n_1450369.html