LGBT News Republican lawmaker works to outlaw conversion therapy

I don't understand why these bills are only aimed at outlawing this being used on kids. It's widely accepted that this "therapy" is dangerous, immoral and completely unethical, so why isn't it being outlawed completely?

I also think legislation like this needs real teeth beyond what's been set out in this particular bill to actively discourage the pursuit and usage of this "therapy".

Bit baffled why religious liberty zealots are picking this hill to die on too.

 

Yeah, for better or for worse, in this free country, we allow adults to make choices that may be harmful.. like treating their conditions with homeopathic remedies, which are scientifically proven to do jack **** (i.e. they're no better than a placebo). So not forbidding adults from trying conversion therapy follows legal precedent. But protecting kids from being coerced into harmful, ineffective therapy to fix something that isn't broken, on the other hand, is something that is in line with other matters in which the government has historically taken an interest.

 

Finally the world is taking steps in the right direction! (Eventually) crazy conervative parents won't be able to do god-knows-ehat to their kids because they're too fabulous to handle.

So are republicans the good party or the not so good party? I'm not to great with American politics...

 

Republicans (aka the GOP) tend to be the ones to oppose our efforts, many of them religious and calling what we do "Christian persecution" and then saying outright lies about LGBT people. That's just the tip.

So it's really nice to hear the occasional GOP member actually helping us instead of accusing us for being what's wrong with the country.

 

I wouldn't consider adults who submit to conversion therapy as rational actors, nor do I think conversion therapy follows ethical standards, psychologically or as an area of business. It's fundamentally deceptive and really quite abusive.

Still, outlawing it for children is a positive step. Children are probably the most vulnerable to coercion to get them into these places. God knows what children whose parents would consider sending them to a conversion camp go through, even with the so-called therapy forbidden.

 

You could say that the Republicans are often the ones who "choose the red lightsaber" so to speak. The majority of the party is very anti-LGBT and put their own religion above the rights of others. There are exceptions to either party being good or bad, of course. Though, American politics are confusing often border on insanity.

With marriage equality being a thing, and maybe even their own family members fighting for full equality, perhaps they will realize they need a new focus, like stopping violence.

 

I completely agree with you. What I was trying to convey was merely what the political climate is like in the US, not that I think that people should be able to practice conversion therapy.

 

The two major parties Democrats/Republicans are both extremely corrupt, Republicans are just obvious about it.

 

Well, it's a New Hampshire Republican, so... not like a southern Republican.

 

Most republicans are generally conservative but there are different types of conservatism. Some are strictly economic conservative (reducing taxes or benefits or regulations on businesses) Some are almost libertarian in their beliefs. Others tend to focus on social issues, like opposition to LGBT issues, abortion, gun control, etc. and others are a mix. A lot depends on where the republican politician is elected. For example, ones in the northeast of the US (like Ct, NY,) tend to focus on economic issues, while the ones in the "Bible belt" in the South are more social issues. The far right republicans will sometimes refer to the republicans in the northeast as RHINOS for that reason. (Republican in name only) It's almost like a litmus test.

 

It's very simple, these 'therapies' should be banned for everyone.
A law that would ban these doesn't have to mention sexuality.
They could be banned because they are fraudulent as they are knowingly selling something that cannot work. Passing a law that bans any treatment that causes harm without any benefit would make these 'therapies' illegal.