Tuesday, March 01, 2016

SCOTUS again kicks fraudulent 'ex-gay' therapy to the curb


The religious right isn't happy with the Supreme Court today. According to the Human Rights Campaign:

Today, the U.S. Supreme Court again refused to hear a challenge to New Jersey’s law protecting LGBTQ youth from the fraudulent and dangerous practice of so-called “conversion therapy.” Republican Governor Chris Christie signed this important legislation into law in August of 2013. The Court’s action leaves in place the decision of the Third Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals upholding the law’s constitutionality. Last May, the Supreme Court declined to review a separate challenge to the same law, and in June of 2014, the Court refused to hear similar challenges to California’s law protecting youth from “conversion therapy.” California, Illinois, New Jersey, Oregon and the District of Columbia have all passed laws protecting LGBTQ minors from  “conversion therapy,” and more than 20 states have introduced similar legislation this year. Following an executive action from Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, New York is also adopting regulations to protect youth from “conversion therapy.”

 . . . “Conversion therapy,” sometimes referred to as “sexual orientation change efforts” or “reparative therapy,” are practices that seek to change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. These practices are based on the false premise that being LGBTQ is a mental illness that needs to be cured, a theory that has been rejected by every major medical and mental health organization for decades. There is no credible evidence that “conversion therapy” can change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. To the contrary, research has clearly shown that these practices pose devastating health risks for LGBTQ young people. Use of these dangerous practices lead to depression, decreased self-esteem, substance abuse, homelessness, and even suicidal behavior, which is why they are universally criticized by the American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association, and American Medical Association.

Naturally, members of the religious right have tried to spin this defeat into a bad one for families instead of a defeat of homophobia. American Family Association's One News Now posted an "article" containing only one person quoted, Liberty Counsel head Matt Staver.

'Anti-gay religious liberty bills have huge weakness' & other Tue. midday news briefs


Nathan Deal, David Ralston form an alliance over ‘religious liberty’ bill - Georgia's governor is getting spooked about the state's anti-gay religious liberty bill. 

The growing corporate backlash to Georgia’s ‘religious liberty’ bill - And this is why. The anti-gay right have not created an effective way to combat corporate backlashes to these bills. It's their weakness. 

 Italian court recognises same sex adoption - Good for Italy!!  

When Kids Say They’re Trans, They’re Better Off If Their Parents Listen - Same song, just different group. When lgbt children in general get support from their parents, it does them a WORLD of good.  

Franklin Graham Boycotts Girl Scouts Cookies As Part Of Anti-LGBT Crusade - Picking on the Girl Scouts. Oh how Christian of you, Frankie.  

School Finally Asks Anti-Gay Students to Stop Wearing Anti-Gay Badges, 'For Now' - BEFORE the religious right and supporters start crying about a violation of the First Amendment, you should know that this situation ceased to become a First Amendment issue when students began using these badges to specifically harass lgbt students. No First Amendment right for that.