Sacramento, Calif., Jun 3, 2012 / 16:30 pm
California's senate has approved a bill restricting the therapeutic treatment of homosexuality in minors. Critics say the measure fails to respect scientific standards, as well as personal and family rights.
Dr. Christopher Rosik, president of the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH), said the largely partisan May 30 vote represented a “triumph of political activism over objective science.”
Approved by a 23-13 margin, Senate Bill 1172 now awaits consideration by the state assembly.
“The American Psychological Association has observed that there are no studies by which to accurately estimate the effectiveness of sexual orientation change intervention or the prevalence of harm,” Rosik said in a May 31 statement, rejecting claims that sexual-orientation therapy is ineffective or harmful.