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Equality news round-up: record number of gay people seeking seats in Congress, and more
October 3, 2012
By Scottie Thomaston
- Here is the complaint challenging California’s new ban on ‘ex-gay’ therapy. h/t Kathleen:2:12-at-01319 #1 Complaint
- A record number of gay people are seeking seats in Congress.
- A new poll shows 60% of Latinos support marriage equality.
- Think Progress has a preview of the new Supreme Court term, including expected gay rights decisions.
- In Texas, a gay couple’s home was vandalized with a homophobic, threatening message.
Having technical problems? E-mail equalityontrial AT couragecampaign DOT org for assistance!
11 Comments Leave a Comment
1.
davep | October 3, 2012 at 1:59 pm
Just read through the complaint. Wow, the "logic" in that document has holes so big you could drive a Gay Pride parade float through them. They conflate things like therapy to deal with destructive sexual compulsions (which afflict people of ALL orientations) with therapy intended to CHANGE orientation from gay to straight. Not the same thing at all. They try to argue that dangerous quack therapies should be allowed if someone really thinks they want it… and worse, they imply it should be allowed if a minor's PARENTS really think THEY want it, ignoring the fact that it's harmful and just bad science, and implying that all patients (or their parents) always know what what type of therapy would be best for them and that therapists are compelled to comply with their wishes. They suggest that dangerous quack therapy should be allowed and the therapist can choose to ignore the accepted scientific findings of their own profession and do whatever they want as long as they say it's based on their religious views…. Some of it is just bad logic, some of it is rhetoric, and some of it is really very disturbing…
2.
brad | October 3, 2012 at 2:19 pm
This ex gay therapy is such crap Dave. I have read SO many articles that state it (ex gay therapy) does so much more harm than good. (not sure what 'good' would be anyway?)
And WHY do they think anyone should change anyway…what is their purpose in changing??
Sad really…
Funny that about gay pride parade float…did you mean a TORONTO gay pride parade float?..*wink wink*
3.
Reformed | October 3, 2012 at 2:26 pm
Dont these people remember that it isn't orientation that matters, just behavior?
4.
specificplan | October 3, 2012 at 2:39 pm
Cool! By their logic I should be to buy pot if I want it, crack addicts should be able to buy cocaine, and sex addicts should be able to hire hookers! I wonder if they even considered the ramifications of their logic?
5.
Mike in Baltimore | October 3, 2012 at 9:19 pm
Reformed?
They confuse and interchange the two words, using whichever one they think will advance their 'argument' the best, or confuse the listener the most.
6.
skrekk | October 3, 2012 at 9:36 pm
IANAL or a licensed therapist, but one line from the complaint seems very problematic for one of the plaintiffs:
I doubt the plaintiff’s lawyers realize it, but they just screwed themselves royally and might have unwittingly jeopardized the plaintiff’s medical license. A psychiatrist’s religious views should not bias the treatment of a patient.
7.
Bryce in DC and KS | October 3, 2012 at 10:34 pm
On page 11 of the complaint (at 17-18) it says that Plaintiff Bitzer experienced same-sex sexual attraction throughout his entire ADULT life. Then, it continues, he went through SOCE therapy (at 24-25). On page 6, the bill is summarized as only applying to SOCE performed on individuals 18 and under (at 20-21). If Mr. Bitzer went through SOCE after experiencing same-sex sexual attraction, which only happened in his adult life, then the SOCE must have also been in his adult life.
Seems to me like plaintiffs own complaint admits that one of the plaintiffs lacks Article III standing!
8.
davep | October 4, 2012 at 12:30 pm
Yes, I saw that too. The phrase "adult life' kinda jumps right off the page. Good point about standing. I realize that the reason they included this guy in the appeal is that they are trying to imply that this quack therapy actually works and has value, but if they try to trot out some 'ex-gays' to testify about the benefits of this therapy, they are going to be countered with some extremely graphic and compelling horror stories from people who were forced to endure this type of treatment as minors, just like during the hearings before the bill was signed. I hope this proceeding gets lots of press.
9.
Mike Ho. | October 4, 2012 at 1:31 pm
<img src="http://www.newautoquote.us/ikeas/loi.jpg"/> Thanks for the heads up, but after reading it i'm totally confused again.<img src="http://www.newautoquote.us/xboz/jh.jpg"/>
10.
skrekk | October 4, 2012 at 3:03 pm
Regarding Dr Duk’s comment that he’s a practitioner of “ex-gay therapy”,
11.
Bryce in DC and KS | October 4, 2012 at 10:21 pm
I know what you mean. And, if they just wanted to prove that the therapy can work (which they can't because it doesn't), why not just call him as a witness. That is what happened with the Prop 8 trial.
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