California Bans Gay Therapy for Teens

Jerry Brown's decided to relegate therapy designed to convince minors they aren't gay to "the dustbin of quackery," in California. The San Francisco Chronicle reported Saturday evening that Brown signed a bill that night banning gay-to-straight therapy for minors.

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"This bill bans non-scientific ‘therapies’ that have driven young people to depression and suicide,'' Brown said in a statement. "These practices have no basis in science or medicine and they will now be relegated to the dustbin of quackery." The bill was introduced by state Senator Ted Lieu. "An entire house of medicine has rejected gay conversion therapy. Not only does it not work but it is harmful. Patients who go through this have gone through guilt and shame, and some have committed suicide," Lieu told NBC News. According to the L.A. Times, lawsuits are already being planned alleging the bill violates "constitutional protections, including the free speech rights of therapists and the right of patients to get access to information."

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