New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s ban on gay-conversion therapy for minors in New Jersey is facing a lawsuit from parents who claim it violates free speech and freedom of religion. Their 15-year-old, who “began to think he would like himself much better if he was a girl” and contemplated suicide, needs conversion therapy to feel better, the suit claims: “Joe Doe has a sincerely held religious belief and conviction that homosexuality is wrong and immoral, and he wanted to address that value conflict because his unwanted same-sex attractions and gender confusion are contrary to the fundamental religious values that he holds.”
When Christie signed the law, he noted, “Government should tread carefully into this area,” but decided ultimately “that on the issues of medical treatment for children we must look to experts in the field to determine the relative risks and rewards. I believe that exposing children to these health risks without clear evidence of benefits that outweigh these serious risks is not appropriate.”
According to the lawsuit, “We believe that the literature and reports are not accurate and what the legislation relied on is erroneous and that there are constitutional implications.” Mom and dad and the church, in other words, know best, not science.
