KQED NEWS: State Senate Approves Therapy Ban Aimed at Gay Children

By Ben Adler

The state Senate has banned a form of psychotherapy intended to turn gay children straight.  The bill now goes to the Assembly. If approvedCalifornia would be the first state to pass a ban on so-called reparative therapy.
 
Democratic Senator Ted Lieu wrote the bill and calls that kind of treatment “junk science.” During the floor debate, Lieu told the story of Ryan Kendall, who participated in that therapy:

“(He) was told that he had to “butch up;”  (he) was told that being gay “made god cry;”  (he) was told that he had to go and play sports; and he testified that for 10 years of his life, he wanted to commit suicide," Lieu said. "He has not done that and now he is speaking out against this kind of therapy.”

Republicans voted against the bill, but did not speak during debate. Two Democrats supported the measure for now, but raised concerns from trade associations that the bill is overly broad and would micromanage the work of individual therapists.

The measure passed 23-to-13 and now moves to the State Assembly.