FOX40-TV SACRAMENTO: Senator Takes Aim at Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapies

Senate Bill 1172 would ban children under 18 from undergoing these therapies and would require adults seeking these treatments to sign consent forms that they are aware of potential dangers.

“Under the guise of a California license, some therapists are taking advantage of vulnerable people by pushing dangerous sexual orientation-change efforts,” Lieu said, in a press release sent Monday. “These bogus efforts have led in some cases to patients later committing suicide, as well as severe mental and physical anguish.  This is junk science and it must stop.”

The bill is based upon 40 years of research, according to Lieu’s office, that says one’s sexual orientation, regardless of what it is, is “not a disease, disorder, illness, deficiency or shortcoming.”

Lieu’s office also alleges that conversion therapies may push patients to suicide.

SB 1172 is set to be reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee, likely in early May.