By Sara Ward
Copy Editor
Last weekend, California Gov. Jerry Brown took another step toward ending discrimination and hate against the gay community by signing a law which prohibits therapy aimed at turning gay kids under the age of 18 straight, according to a Oct. 2 CNN.com article.
After the state Senate passed the bill, Equality California spokeswoman Rebekah Orr said, “(This) was the right first step in making sure that young people are protected from these unscrupulous therapists who are really engaging in therapeutic deception that is based on junk science.”
Brown should be applauded for his efforts to end this destructive therapy. By signing a law that ends gay therapy, Brown showed he won’t stand for practices that have the potential to hurt young people.
Some people, like David Pickup, a spokesman for the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality, wrongly believe therapy can help heal inner wounds and allow homosexual feelings to dissipate.
Pickup, who went through the therapy himself, claims there’s a cause-and-effect nature of homosexuality which can be brought on by instances of abuse or gender identity inferiority.
Since when is it okay to make someone feel like their sexual orientation is due to past abuse or gender identity problems? Why do people have to have an excuse to like someone of the same gender? Everyone is born differently. We should be able to embrace our differences instead of forcing some people to conform to a certain image that is accepted by society.
The American Psychiatric Association determined reparative therapy poses a great risk, including increasing the likelihood or severity of depression, anxiety and self-destructive behavior for those undergoing therapy, according to the same CNN article. Therapists’ alignment with societal prejudices against homosexuality may reinforce self-hatred already felt by patients, the association said.
Therapy which causes anyone to feel more upset or worthless than they were before the therapy is not OK. It’s important that Gov. Brown signed this law because it prevents other young people from undergoing therapy that has the potential to do a lot of damage to a person’s psyche.
It’s pretty sad these so-called “therapists” lure young people into therapy by telling them they can “cure” them of their homosexuality. They take advantage of these teenagers who experience unhappiness and low self-esteem because of a society that doesn’t understand their sexual orientation.
Homosexual men and women shouldn’t feel that they have to change just to fit in with society’s standards.
Our society that needs to change, not these young people.
