Mat Staver

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (WordNews.org) Oct. 1, 2012 – Liberty Counsel plans to challenge California’s ban on therapy aimed at changing someone’s sexual orientation from homosexual to heterosexual.
California Gov. Jerry Brown signed the bill into law Sunday that bans change therapy. Liberty Counsel anticipated the bill becoming law and has been preparing a lawsuit on behalf of counselors, parents and their minor children, and the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH).

In signing the bill, Gov. Brown said that change therapy “will now be relegated to the dustbin of quackery.”
“The California governor and legislature are putting their own preconceived notions and political ideology ahead of children and their rights to get access to counseling that meets their needs,” said Mat Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel. “A number of minors who have struggled with same-sex attraction have been able to reduce or eliminate the stress and conflicts in their lives by receiving counseling of their choice which best meets their needs and religious convictions.”
Staver said the law  “will harm children, stress families, and place counselors in a catch-22, because they will be forced to violate their licensing ethical codes.”
According to Staver, the law defines “sexual orientation change efforts” as any practice that is designed to reduce or eliminate same-sex attraction. Such broad language will prohibit any counseling that does not affirm and encourage experimentation with or acceptance of same-sex attractions, regardless of whether those feelings and attractions are unwanted by the counselee.”

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