Christie to sign ban on gay conversion therapy

New Jersey will prohibit therapists from using the practice on gay and lesbian children

Published August 19, 2013 1:39PM (EDT)

Gov. Chris Christie will reportedly sign legislation Monday that bans gay conversion therapy for minors, according to an aide who spoke with the Washington Post.

Though Christie has previously said he opposes the practice, he also noted that when it comes to "bills that restrict parents’ ability to make decisions on how to care for their children, I’m generally a skeptic of those bills."

“I still have those concerns,” he will say Monday, according to the Post. “Government should tread carefully into this area, and I do so here reluctantly. I have scrutinized this piece of legislation with that concern in mind.”

From the Post:

But, Christie will note, the American Psychological Association has said that gay conversion therapy — also known as reparative therapy — can lead to mental health issues and substance abuse.

“I believe that exposing children to these health risks without clear evidence of benefits that outweigh these serious risks is not appropriate,” Christie will say. “Based upon this analysis, I sign this bill into law.”

Once Christie does sign the bill, New Jersey will be the second state to ban the practice, after California.


By Jillian Rayfield

Jillian Rayfield is an Assistant News Editor for Salon, focusing on politics. Follow her on Twitter at @jillrayfield or email her at jrayfield@salon.com.

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Chris Christie Gay Conversion Therapy Lgbt Rights New Jersey Republican Party