CNSNews ^ | May 9, 2012 | Pete Winn
(CNSNews.com) - Conservative pro-family groups in California are making preparations to challenge what they call a “dangerous” bill banning "reparative therapy" for teens that is on a fast track through the California State Senate.
California Senate Bill 1172 would make it illegal for therapists, psychologists, counselors and parents to engage in any kind of “sexual orientation change efforts” against children 18 and younger.
Violators could be subject to arrest, fines, possible jail time.
The bill, which passed out of a legislative committee Tuesday on a 5-3 vote, would also require adults to sign a consent form before they could seek therapy or counseling to change their sexual orientation.
Brad Dacus, president of the Pacific Justice Institute of Sacramento, Calif., pledges to challenge the constitutionality of the measure in the courts, if it passes the Legislature.
“This legislation is a grotesque violation of the rights of parents over their children,” said Dacus, who testified against the bill Tuesday.
He said the bill, which targets reparative therapy, could also lead to parents losing custody of their children to the state if they seek therapy for their youngsters.
“It specifically prohibits any child under the age of 18 who struggles with homosexuality from getting any kind of professional counseling at all, period,” Dacus told CNSNews.com.
“In fact, it also subjects parents to possibly having their children permanently removed from them if it is found that the parents were not accepting of a child’s perception of being homosexual and the parents want the child to get counseling.”
“If the parents are not totally accepting of this sexual orientation, then that is deemed abuse and gives the government grounds to permanently take the child from the parents.
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