***NEWS
RELEASE***
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 31, 2016
CONTACT
Luke Taylor, Equality And Justice For All
Therapy Equality and Religious Liberty Impacted by Two Federal Court Decisions
Equality And Justice For All Applauds Pastors in California and Illinois as they Fight for Therapy Equality in Federal Courts
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Equality And Justice For All, whose #TherapyEquality campaign has advocated for families and
their minor children that experience unwanted same-sex attractions (SSA) and
gender identity confusion, praised pastors in Illinois and California for standing up for therapy equality in two Federal courts.
Earlier this month (August 11), a group of Illinois pastors filed a federal lawsuit against the state's recently enacted "Youth Mental Health Protection Act" that prohibits minors who experience unwanted same-sex attractions from receiving counseling from a licensed mental health provider. The pastors argue that the law “unconstitutionally restricts a young person’s right to make personal choices regarding his or her own choice of sexual identity, as well as the pastors’ right to free speech and the exercise of religion.”
Later in the month (August 23), the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals once again upheld California’s Senate Bill 1172 that bans licensed counselors from helping youth who experience unwanted same-sex attractions or gender identity confusion. The legal challenge was brought forth by a pastor, who is also a licensed counselor, and argued that the law would not only affect his free speech as a a counselor, but also in his role as a member of the clergy. But the 9th Circuit once again rejected religious liberty concerns and upheld the law.
Christopher Doyle,
licensed professional counselor and spokesperson for Equality And Justice For All (www.equalityandjusticeforall.org), a leading civil
rights organization for the ex-gay community that promotes fair and equitable
laws and policies to protect the general welfare of parents and their minor
children who experience unwanted SSA and/or gender identity confusion, said the
following:
“We commend the pastors both in California and Illinois who are deeply committed to their faith and the spiritual, mental, and emotional well-being of their young parishioners who are sincerely seeking to align their sexuality with their religious convictions. At the same time, we are deeply saddened that the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals once again had the opportunity to grant therapy equality to the youth of California, but instead, are choosing to ignore the mental health needs of these minors in favor of a politically correct liberal ideology. We are optimistic and hope for a better outcome in Illinois so that sexually confused and abused young people can get the help they really need."
While
gay activists have succeeded in passing laws in five states and several
municipalities to prohibit licensed therapy for minors who seek to resolve
unwanted SSA and/or gender identity confusion, it is important to note that
twenty states in the last four years have rejected such legislation, including:
Connecticut, New Hampshire, Arizona, Georgia,
West Virginia, Nevada, Minnesota, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Iowa,
Colorado, Virginia, Washington, Florida, Texas, New York, Massachusetts,
Maryland, and Hawaii.
Over 100,000 medical and mental health professionals representing the American
Association of Christian Counselors, Catholic Medical Association, American
College of Pediatricians, Christian Medical Association, Freedom2Care, Alliance
for Therapeutic Choice and Scientific Integrity, and the International Network
of Orthodox Jewish Mental Health Professionals support the rights of clients
to pursue therapy to overcome unwanted SSA and gender identity confusion.
Equality
And Justice For All is the only civil rights organization that works to
further the general welfare of the ex-gay community by promoting fair and
equitable laws and policies protecting their rights. By furthering individual self-determination
and liberty for former homosexuals, the organization strives to reduce bigoted
representations of the ex-gay sexual orientation status, ensuring that ex-gays
and their friends and families can be open, honest, safe and respected in a diverse
society.
Equality
And Justice For All also advocates for homosexuals with unwanted
same-sex attractions, endeavoring to increase fairness and equitable treatment
for former homosexuals, and help communities overcome the effects of prejudice
and intolerance against gays who no longer want to live out a gay identity. Equality And Justice For All conducts
public education and outreach to further individual self-determination and
respect for all Americans, regardless of their sexual orientation.
