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A Big Christian Victory: 'Gay Conversion Therapy' Ban Shelved in California
Christian Post ^ | 09/02/2018 | Michael Brown

Posted on 09/02/2018 9:24:14 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

Make no mistake about it. The news from California is very big and very positive. As reported in the LA Times, "California legislator shelves bill to ban paid 'gay conversion therapy' for adults."

In a somewhat unprecedented move in the history of gay activism, Assemblyman Evan Low, himself gay, has withdrawn AB2943 from a final vote.

The bill, which would have made it illegal for people of any age to receive professional help for unwanted same-sex attractions, was almost certain to pass the Assembly, having been approved by the Senate 25-11. But to Low's credit, he took the time to meet with faith leaders across the state, hearing their concerns.

In his own words, "I knew this was an emotionally charged issue, so I spent the past few months traveling up and down the state meeting with a wide variety of faith leaders."

It appears he was sensitive enough to the concerns of these leaders that, for now, he withdrew the bill.

That is certainly commendable on Low's part, and he deserves our utmost appreciation. How many legislators would do what he had done?

There is also a massively important lesson to be learned, so let all of America (and the world) take notice: This is what can happen when the church gets mobilized, even in hyper-left California. This is what can happen when Christian leaders decide to take a moral stand on controversial social issues. This is what can happen when we seek to be the salt and the light, even when it's outside our comfort zone.

But that leads to a major concern. Why did it take so long? Why did we largely sit on the sidelines until now? And isn't it ironic that we are rejoicing over the withdrawal of a bill that should never have seen the light of day?

Having been on the front lines of these issues since 2004, this is a truth that stings deeply: We are only in this moral and cultural morass today because the church has been so silent.

I say that with shame and with pain, not with condemnation. Surely I could have done better too.

California has passed bill after bill mandating the celebration of LGBT history in America, with no one allowed to opt out, including both teachers and students. This is mandatory for all public schools, grades K-12.

One of the worst of these bills, SB777, became law in 2007. Where was the Christian outcry over this? Where was the concern for our children?

Speaking of our children, where was the Christian outcry in 2012, when California passed the virtual equivalent of AB 2943, barring minors from receiving professional help for unwanted same-sex attraction?

And for those throwing stones at the church of California, where were the rest of us when similar bills were passed in a dozen other states? Are we that unconcerned with the wellbeing of our kids?

So, as much as I rejoice over this major victory in California, I do so with reserve: We have been asleep in the light for far too long. Today, we are paying for the price for convenience store Christianity.

There's also a reason to be cautious in our celebration. AB 2943 is not going away. It's just being reshaped.

To quote Assemblyman Low again, "I believe we are on the side of the angels on this issue," he said. "Having said that, in order to get it right, why wouldn't we want to engage in meaningful, thoughtful, transformational relationships and conversations?"

What, exactly, does it mean to "get it right"? Is not the whole premise of the bill that there's nothing wrong with being gay? That all attempts to change sexual orientation are harmful and abusive? That any professional services offered to produce change are fraudulent?

But there's more – and be assured that the impact will be major. There are two brand new movies that will be highly touted by Hollywood (just wait for the praises and awards to flow), and both seek to expose "conversion therapy."

One, called Boy Erased, "follows the son of a Baptist preacher who is forced to take part in a gay conversion program."

The other is called The Miseducation of Cameron Post, telling the story of "a 12-year-old Montana girl who is discovering her own homosexuality" and is subsequently sent to a "conversion camp."

It is difficult to describe just how much anti-Christian, anti-conservative, anti-change sentiment will be stirred up by these films, which in no way, shape, size or form will be fair or balanced, let alone biblical.

So, while there is much cause for celebration in California, there remains serious cause for concern.

May this victory be a wake-up call and a starting point rather than a time to sit back and rest on our laurels. To do so would be to make a very serious mistake.

Dr. Michael Brown (www.askdrbrown.org) is the host of the nationally syndicated Line of Fire radio program. His latest book is Donald Trump Is Not My Savior: An Evangelical Leader Speaks His Mind About the Man He Supports As President


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: gayconversion; homosexualagenda; homosexuality; therapy

1 posted on 09/02/2018 9:24:14 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

I can understand them not wanting children sent to this kind of therapy — although it makes no sense simultaneously to decide that children’s parents can start “transitioning” them from one sex to another at will — but no one has any business telling adults that they cannot seek this (or any) kind of therapy.


2 posted on 09/02/2018 9:30:12 AM PDT by A_perfect_lady
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To: SeekAndFind
There are two brand new movies that will be highly touted by Hollywood (just wait for the praises and awards to flow), and both seek to expose "conversion therapy."

I can confidently predict that few will see these movies, and that they will receive all sorts of awards.

3 posted on 09/02/2018 9:32:55 AM PDT by jimtorr
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To: SeekAndFind
Most homosexuals were sexually abused as children.

That abuse constitutes RAPE.

They are attempting to BAN RAPE THERAPY!

4 posted on 09/02/2018 9:33:36 AM PDT by G Larry (There is no great virtue in bargaining with the Devil)
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To: jimtorr
Hollywood prides itself as the bastion of "morality" and public opinion. What self-delusion and a laughable joke. We are here: “If there are no absolutes by which to judge society, then society is absolute.” Francis Schaeffer, How Shall We Then Live? (Old Tappan NJ: Fleming H Revell Company, 1976), p. 224.
5 posted on 09/02/2018 9:37:08 AM PDT by Fungi
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To: SeekAndFind

Didn’t New Jersey pass a similar law and that dufus former Gov Krispy Kreme sign it!!??


6 posted on 09/02/2018 10:10:45 AM PDT by McBuff (To be, rather than to seem)
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To: SeekAndFind

They are only taking this off momentarily because they realize it will mobilize Christians against Democrats. Once the elections are over they will bring it back and pass it, and then open persecution of Christians will begin, since it will be illegal to teach Bible passages regarding sexuality.


7 posted on 09/02/2018 10:14:05 AM PDT by kaehurowing
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To: SeekAndFind

"Shelved" only because evil is patient. It will wait for Catholics to return to unguarded slumber. The Pope will assist by focusing us on pollution instead of child abuse.


8 posted on 09/02/2018 10:31:01 AM PDT by so_real ( "The Congress of the United States recommends and approves the Holy Bible for use in all schools.")
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To: SeekAndFind

First if all, desiring the same sex is not normal. Second, it is fair to ask why someone would want the same sex. It is very possible that there is an underlying mental problem. A problem that might have a solution though therapy.


9 posted on 09/02/2018 10:33:32 AM PDT by dhs12345
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To: SeekAndFind

It can be debated whether parents should be able to force a minor into this therapy against his or her will, or whether parents should be able to refuse such therapy if a minor desires it.

But for a state to think it should be able to prevent adults from entering such therapy is just rank totalitarianism. That’s no more the business of a state than whether an adult wants to enter a weight loss program, or any sort of physical fitness program. One doesn’t even have to get to the religion aspect of this to decide it’s nothing but Big Brother injecting himself into an area where he has no business.


10 posted on 09/02/2018 12:42:07 PM PDT by Will88
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To: SeekAndFind

That law would have been invalid and unconstitutional. That means they will try again.


11 posted on 09/02/2018 12:50:11 PM PDT by I want the USA back (Cynicism is the only refuge in a world that is determined to eliminate itself.)
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To: SeekAndFind
What bothers me is that the article indicates that there are only two "sides" of the debate in Cali's legislature: the gay agenda and Christians. I believe it is ludicrous to leave statistical analysis, social science and biology out of it; but the gay lobby instinctively knows that fact-based, material-world research will destroy their cherished narratives.

Why would any responsible adult wish to deny therapy to a minor child who was experiencing unwanted or troublesome same-sex attraction AFTER having been molested or raped?

The left's excuse is that gay identity is inborn and a person can't be "converted" by a gay experience, even an unwanted one. I believe they are wrong about that. And I believe their attempts to suppress scientific inquiry and research are fascist and totalitarian.

12 posted on 09/02/2018 1:45:39 PM PDT by Albion Wilde (AinÂ’t no reaching across the isle in Hell.)
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To: SeekAndFind

I wish I could find a time machine and travel back to a time where this was not a public spectacle. So tired of it all. Please just make this kind of stuff and islam just go away.


13 posted on 09/02/2018 2:25:07 PM PDT by This I Wonder32460 (I'd rather be a GOP Deplorable then a Dem Corruptible.)
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To: SeekAndFind

Faggot Low will “get it right” next time by more onerous penalties and broader application of the bill. Activist homosexuals don’t listen to sane people on these issues; he was taking notes from them on how to sew up any loopholes in the current proposed law.

Never EVER trust a sodomite. EVER.


14 posted on 09/02/2018 4:19:07 PM PDT by fwdude (History has no 'sides;' you're thinking of geometry.)
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To: A_perfect_lady
I can understand them not wanting children sent to this kind of therapy...

What is there to understand? Children who are suffering the fallout of sexual abuse manifesting itself in homosexual thoughts are the best candidates for such help. And understand the “children” refers to young adults as well, post-pubescent teens, who are in the throes of hormone warfare.

Children need it more than adults.

15 posted on 09/02/2018 4:24:07 PM PDT by fwdude (History has no 'sides;' you're thinking of geometry.)
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To: jimtorr

Yep. These politically focused movies will show at the obscurest artsy one-screen theaters and “gay” film festivals. But they will be acclaimed by queer Hollyweird just the same.


16 posted on 09/02/2018 4:26:04 PM PDT by fwdude (History has no 'sides;' you're thinking of geometry.)
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To: A_perfect_lady
I can understand them not wanting children sent to this kind of therapy — although it makes no sense simultaneously to decide that children’s parents can start “transitioning” them from one sex to another at will — but no one has any business telling adults that they cannot seek this (or any) kind of therapy.

So you don’t think a child’s own parents should have the right to make that decision? If they don’t want to send their own children that’s their own business.

17 posted on 09/02/2018 4:29:58 PM PDT by Shethink13 (there are 0 electoral votes in the state of denial)
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To: Shethink13

No, I don’t think a child’s parents own them. Think of Muslims. You want them having the right to turn their kids into jihadis? Let people get to 18 at least.


18 posted on 09/02/2018 5:05:41 PM PDT by A_perfect_lady
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To: SeekAndFind

Psychologists, secular ones, will not be providing that kind of therapy. As it should be. But the CA screw n’ spend legislators have no place deciding what Christian therapists can do. They are counseling Christians in a Christian way. None of the law’s business.

I honestly do not know how sexual beings can receive therapy that takes away desire. All I can imagine is that they sublimate and distract with a holier activity. Maybe there are steps the person can take. I’m not sure how it would go. It’s most likely like any other therapy to help you cope while in a difficult situation. It may be of help to have group therapy, to know you aren’t struggling alone. But like with sex addict group therapy, there should be armed guards in the parking lot and no one carpooling...


19 posted on 09/02/2018 5:11:57 PM PDT by Yaelle
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To: fwdude

Children who are suffering the fallout of sexual abuse manifesting itself in homosexual thoughts are the best candidates for such help.


You would be surprised. Imprinting sexual orientation RARELY happens. Yes, there are confusing thoughts, but most men abused by men as boys are straight. They never were not interested in women. But yeah, the experience does mess them up.


20 posted on 09/02/2018 5:13:37 PM PDT by Yaelle
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