California banning a psychotherapy

Reuters reports:

California's state Assembly approved a bill on Tuesday to prohibit children and teenagers from undergoing a controversial therapy that aims to reverse homosexuality, moving the state closer to becoming the first to impose such a ban.

The 51-21 vote in the Democratic-controlled Assembly marked a major victory for gay rights advocates who say the so-called conversion therapy has no medical basis because homosexuality is not a disorder.

That is nonsense. The psychiatrists declared homosexuality to not be a disorder based on a political vote, not medical reasons.

Most psychotherapies have no medical basis, and are directed at purposes other than treating disorders. Maybe we ought to go further, and ban all such psychotherapies.

Several openly gay legislators championed the bill in emotional speeches during the floor debate, citing their own childhood experiences.

"One of our No. 1 priorities in this house is to protect the next generation of Californians," said Ricardo Lara, a Democrat from Los Angeles County. "And some of those are sissy boys. And some of those sissy boys grow up to be Assembly members. And some of those sissy boys need help. And we are here to stand with those sissy boys."

I am adding that to my list of reasons for moving out of California.

Assembly member John Perez, the first openly gay speaker of the California's lower house, said during floor debate that "it is inappropriate for anyone, including parents, to subject anybody to dehumanizing activity," referring to the therapy.

Then we should also ban the family court from sending parents to parenting classes, anger management classes, counseling, and other dehumanizing activities.

Republican opponents of the measure said politicians should not step in and regulate what they consider to be a matter for medical boards to decide. They also said the bill encroaches on the rights of parents to make choices for their children.

"That's why parents have children -- to hand down their legacies, their belief systems, the way they want their children raised," Assembly member Shannon Grove, a Republican from Bakersfield, said during the floor debate.

Glad to see Republicans stick up for parental rights. Some day, parents will be subject to a CPS investigation or a child custody loss if they teach their kids to be straight.