Conversion Therapy

Update: AB 2943 Withdrawn!

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In a stunning turn of events, Evan Low, the author of AB 2943, withdrew the bill from being voted on and sent to the governor's desk this year. In a statement that his office released, he said, “Authoring Assembly Bill 2943 is one of the most personal decisions I have made since taking office. As an elected official, I made decisions that discriminated against my very existence in order to support the broader community I represented. I officiated at weddings but, at the time, I could not legally have one of my own. I hosted blood drives but I was prohibited from participating due to the FDA’s discriminatory ban on gay blood donors. I hosted Boy Scouts earning merit badges but as a child I was never able to earn my own.“As a young person I often found myself confused about my sexual [Read more...]

Update: AB 2943 (8/19/18)

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[Update: AB 2943 Withdrawn] AB 2943 has passed the California Senate and is now in the Assembly once again for a concurrence vote. This basically is a vote to affirm and pass the bill as written in the Senate. More than likely, it will pass the Assembly soon and be sent to Governor Brown for his signature. Our last chance to stop this bill will be to call your assembly member or Governor Brown's office (213) 897-0322. Click here to find out who your assembly member is. Changes to the Bill A few amendments to the bill have been passed. If you read my previous article, then you will remember that there were two sections that were more troubling. The section which read Advertising, offering to engage in, or engaging in sexual orientation change efforts with an [Read more...]

What is California Assembly Bill 2943 (AB 2943)?

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Update 8/18/18: The Bill has changed and been amended several times. Some of the analysis below may no longer apply. For the latest version of the bill, click here. Update 08/31/18: AB 2943 has been withdrawn. By now, if you live in California, you have probably heard about AB 2943, a bill that is meant to declare conversion and reparative therapy to be fraudulent business practices. According to its author, Evan Low, this is what it does and does not do. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imbJxrlNZio& According to him, this bill: Prohibits the practice of conversion therapy in exchange for money Allows affected customers to recover damages Protects the LGBT community According to him, it does not: Ban the sale of Bibles Ban free speech Prevent anyone from speaking or [Read more...]