Politically Motivated
Bill to Ban Heterosexual-Affirming Therapy Bad for Minnesota
Pro Family Forum Urges Legislature to Put Clients’ and
Parents’ Rights Over Politics
Minneapolis,
MN -- Pro Family Forum strongly urges the Minnesota Legislature to reject politically
motivated HF1906 and its companion SF 1727, which would take away the rights of
parents and their minor children to seek out counseling from a licensed mental
health provider to overcome unwanted same-sex attraction (SSA). This
legislation would ban mental health providers from helping minor clients who do
not want to engage in homosexual behavior, even if the client’s SSA is a result
of childhood sexual abuse.
“The
children of Minnesota, and their parents, deserve the right to see a counselor
who aligns with their values and goals, including those who have been sexually
abused and seek to overcome unwanted SSA that results from molestation,”
commented Kevin Peterson, former homosexual and life-long Minnesota resident.
“Should HF 1906/SF 1727 become law, children who are molested and develop
homosexual feelings as a result of that abuse will be denied access to highly
qualified professional counselors who are trained on how to treat trauma and
help clients resolve accompanying SSA. It is clear from multiple studies in the
scientific peer-reviewed literature that same-sex attracted individuals are
more likely to be victims of sexual abuse than heterosexuals. In effect, this legislation will result in a child being
raped twice – first by the perpetrator and then again by the political
environment, which refuses to treat the child unless he sees a gay-affirming
therapist.”
HF
1906/SF 1727 makes unfounded claims that heterosexual-affirming therapy is
harmful and ineffective, while ignoring the reality that some minors who
develop homosexual feelings have already been harmed by sexual abuse and will
be unable to pursue help to overcome sexual confusion that may result from that
molestation. It also fails to account that there have been no outcome-based
studies published in the scientific peer-reviewed literature that have followed
adolescents who have gone through sexual orientation change effort (SOCE)
therapy. On the contrary, a groundbreaking new book by Dr. James Phelan
entitled: “Successful Outcomes of Sexual Orientation Change Effort Therapy: An
Annotated Bibliography” cites 100 years of scientific
research documenting success and showing that therapy has helped some clients
resolve their unwanted SSA and experience heterosexual attractions. This bill also comes at
the heels of three states that have recently rejected similar legislation.
“We
are urging legislators in Minnesota to follow the lead of Virginia, Washington,
and Maryland, who recently rejected this politically-motivated legislation, and
say no to HF 1906 and SF 1727,” commented Petersen. “HF 1906/SF 1727 threatens
clients’ constitutional rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
and their first amendment rights to see a counselor who helps them resolve
unwanted SSA while remaining faithful to their deeply held spiritual beliefs.
All parents, children, and families in Minnesota deserve the right to pursue
their own self-determination and should not be forced to choose between their
counselor and their faith values. We are urging Minnesota Legislators to put
the rights of innocent children, who do not have a voice, over this politically
motivated legislation.”
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