A federal appeals court upholds New Jersey’s ban on conversion therapy
A federal appeals court says New Jersey can ban gay conversion therapy for minors. By a 3-0 vote, the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia today dismissed a challenge to the law.
Assemblyman Tim Eustace sponsored the law enacted in 2013 that prevents licensed counselors from trying to convert homosexual children into heterosexuals. “We worked very hard to make sure that we weren’t infringing on anybody’s first amendment rights and I guess the judge validates that. The idea was to just stop this insidious form of child abuse.”
Attorney Daniel Schmid represents the parents who challenged the ban. He says he’ll appeal the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court. “What we’re asking for essentially is for the Supreme Court to strike these laws down as unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination.” Schmit says the ban violates parental rights.
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