NEW YORK, Aug 19 (Reuters) – New Jersey was poised on Monday
to become the second U.S. state
to prevent licensed therapists from counseling gay and lesbian
youths to change their sexual orientation.
Republican Gov. Chris Christie was expected to sign the
measure into law, after the state Senate passed the bill in
June, according to his office and proponents of the legislation.
Citing medical and psychiatric research that sexual
orientation is determined at birth, the bill would ban
state-licensed counselors, therapists and social workers from
practicing a method of talk therapy that opponents have said is
deeply damaging to the self esteem and identity of gay youths.
New Jersey would become the second state after California to
outlaw conversion therapy for people under the age of 18.
Conversion therapy has become increasingly controversial,
and last month the California-based Exodus International, a
Christian group championing it, apologized for the harm it
caused and said it was shutting its doors after 38 years.
(Reporting by Victoria Cavaliere; Editing by Ellen Wulfhorst;
Editing by Alden Bentley)
