A federal appeals court will hear arguments today on the constitutionality of a law that prohibits licensed mental health professionals in California from offering therapies aimed at making gay and lesbian teenagers straight.
A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will consider whether the ban on “sexual orientation change efforts” violates the civil rights of practitioners and parents. The first-of-its-kind legislation was passed by the California Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown last fall.
The law states that therapists and licensed 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. The cases before the appeals court argue that the ban infringes on free speech, freedom of association and religious rights, and in the case of the counselors, jeopardizes their livelihoods.
The ban was scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, but was put on hold by the 9th Circuit pending resolution of the two closely watched cases. It spurred similar legislation still being considered by lawmakers in New Jersey.
