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KOMO News is reporting that an Oregon gay rights group asked the legislature on Monday to outlaw therapy that seeks to change the sexual orientation or gender identity of young people, arguing the practice often does more harm than good.
Paul Southwick, an attorney, told the legislative committee that he had gone through a two-year conversion therapy program, but instead of being "cured," he felt increasingly depressed and anxious---he says he experienced a "false hope."
A similar bill has been introduced in Washington State in 2013 and 2014. In both cases those pushing the bill have been unsuccessful.
It was interesting that last year, the vote in the House passed 94-4, with Rep. Richard DeBolt making a compelling argument in favor of the bill and the ban.
Only Republican Representatives Mark Hargrove, Brad Klippert, Jason Overstreet, and Elizabeth Scott voted against it.
Fortunately the bill died in committee, thanks to Senate Healthcare Committee Chairwoman Randi Becker-R, Eatonville.
This will be a reoccurring effort on the part of homosexual activists for years, if necessary.
I am certain there have been abuses in some counseling experiences, but passing this kind of bill does not protect the children as homosexual activists claim to be seeking to do.
It opens possibilities, however, to further restrict a parent's influence on their own child, while also opening the door even more widely to abuses from those who do in fact counsel young, unprepared children in the public classroom.
It is difficult for me to understand how any conservative or Christian lawmaker could support such a scheme.
KOMO News says, "The measure is part of a national push to prevent mental health care providers from practicing so-called conversion therapy. Laws banning the practice have passed in New Jersey, California and Washington DC, and a dozen other states, including New York and Florida, are pushing for similar legislation."
Both in Washington, Oregon and elsewhere the narrative of those pushing the bill is the same. They bring in people who tell their stories of trauma resulting from their "therapy," with added reports of suicide by distressed, depressed and hopeless children and young adults.
A few things seem to be lost in all this.
The Oregonian writes, "Conversion therapy arises from a belief---rejected by the American Psychiatric Association---that homosexuality is a mental disorder. The APA has said that this kind of therapy is dangerous and may cause depression, anxiety and self destructive behavior. The association also maintains that there is not enough scientific evidence to prove LGBT people can be 'cured'."
However, there is not one single scientific evidence that homosexuality is genetic. They are not "born that way" according to science.
It is a learned behavior.
And certainly influenced by early indoctrination in the public, or government run classroom.
Why do homosexual advocates lean so heavily on science on the one hand and run from it on the other?
While these bills---all similar regardless of which state in which they are introduced, are presented as a helping hand to troubled children, yet much of the confusion among children is initiated in the public classroom as a result of the ongoing indoctrination by GLAAD, GLSEN, Planned Parenthood and other homosexual advocacy organizations that have unrestricted access to our children through lectures and curriculum.
Attorney Paul Southwick, KOMO reports, says, "Essentially, conversion therapy offered me a false hope built on a flawed premise."
He continued, "And the flawed premise was that something was really wrong with me, that I had a sickness. And the false hope was that I could be cured."
I strongly oppose these kinds of bills for the reasons mentioned and a list of other reasons as well.
But I do agree in part that there is an element of "false hope" when secular psychiatric therapy is seen as the ultimate answer.
With all due respect to the attorney, there is something wrong with him. There is something wrong with all of us.
We are born in sin. We all need a Savior to forgive our sin and restore our brokenness.
Any attempt at wholeness and completeness by anyone based on anything other than the redeeming death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and God's eternal promises is indeed a "false hope based on a false premise."
The Oregonian says, "The movement to ban conversion therapy nationwide picked up steam last winter after transgender teenager Leelah (formerly Josh) Alcorn committed suicide. Alcorn's parents forced the 17-year-old-to see Christian therapists, in the hope they would cure Alcorn. In December, before Alcorn walked into the path of a semi-truck, the Ohio teen wrote a suicide note on Tumblr.
It is lengthy, but ends with this: "The only way I will rest in peace is if one day transgender people aren't treated the way I was, they're treated like human beings, with valid feelings and human rights. Fix society. Please."
Fix society. Please.
No child or adult should ever be treated badly because of their sexual behavior. Above all, Christians must show love and compassion, but not affirmation of the behavior.
A constant revising of laws and norms will not "fix society."
Those who testify in favor of banning conversion therapy most always express the anxiety and depression associated with their experiences.
It is not the absence of something, rather the presence of something that brings the fulfillment we all desire and need.
Consider this. God has promised to guide, prosper, refresh, rebuild, raise up, repair and restore those who walk with Him and embrace His laws.
Here is a life that is neither based on a flawed premise or a false promise.
"The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. You will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings" (Isaiah 58: 11-12).
Be Restored.