Sacramento, CA – Today in Sacramento federal court, Judge Kimberly J. Mueller refused to block SB 1172, California’s change therapy law. The law bans any counseling to diminish or eliminate same-sex sexual attractions as of January 1, 2013, essentially dismissing the idea that the law raises any First Amendment issues. Hear Mat Staver’s audio clip regarding this ruling below.

Yesterday, Senior U.S. District Judge William Shubb blocked the same California law, ruling that the change therapy ban “lacks content and viewpoint neutrality” in violation of the First Amendment.

Liberty Counsel will file an emergency appeal with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to block the law before it goes into effect on January 1, 2013.

Liberty Counsel filed Pickup v. Brown, challenging the new law, on October 4 on behalf of several parents and their children who are receiving and benefiting from such counseling; several licensed counselors who provide such counsel; the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH); and the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC), an organization with about 50,000 professional counseling members.

“The minors we represent have not and do not want to act on their same-sex attractions. They are greatly benefiting from counseling,” Staver said. “On January 1, the state of California will essentially barge into the room of each counseling session to tell the counselor what they may present, and clients what they may receive, only one viewpoint on same-sex attraction. This is outrageous and offensive,” said Staver.

“This law is politically motivated to interfere with counselors and clients. Under the law, counselors would be required to provide, and clients to receive, the viewpoint that same-sex attractions are normal and good. Any counsel to reduce or eliminate same-sex attractions would be banned,” Staver said.

Liberty Counsel is an international nonprofit, litigation, education, and policy organization dedicated to advancing religious freedom, the sanctity of life, and the family since 1989, by providing pro bono assistance and representation on these and related topics.