California Gov. Jerry Brown Signs Bill Banning Conversion Therapy For LGBT Youth in California

In the span of 48 hours, California  Gov. Jerry Brown has signed into law a series of bills benefiting the LGBT community including landmark legislation that protects youths from controversial conversion therapy that attempts to change sexual orientation or gender expression.

With Brown’s signature, California becomes the first state in the nation to protect LGBT young people from these practices which include the use of shame, verbal abuse, and aversion therapy and place youth at high risk of depression and suicide. The law, which goes into effect January 1, 2013, prohibits state-licensed therapists from engaging in these practices with minors.

Authored by Senator Ted Lieu, Senate Bill 1172 was co-sponsored by the National Center for Lesbian Rights, Equality California, Gaylesta, Courage Campaign, Lambda Legal, and Mental Health America of Northern California, and supported by dozens of organizations.

“Governor Brown today reaffirmed what medical and mental health organizations have made clear: Efforts to change minors’ sexual orientation are not therapy, they are the relics of prejudice and abuse that have inflicted untold harm on young lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Californians,” said Clarissa Filgioun, Equality California board president.

Also Saturday, Brown today signed AB 1700, legislation that would protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender seniors from undue property tax increases that may result in the loss of their homes after the death of a partner.

“It is simply unfair to place an extra burden on homeowners who are not married when the death of a co-tenant endangers the ability of the survivor to stay in his or her home. I’m proud to make California a more equitable state,” said Assemblymember Betsy Butler who authored the bill.

On Friday, Brown signed into law a bill aimed at making foster care safer and more supportive for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth. [See full story over at Gay Star News] as well as a bill that gives same-sex couples and single women in California the same access to fertility services that were previously only available to heterosexual couples.

From: http://greginhollywood.com