Federal Judge Blocks CA Ban on Reparative Therapy

A federal judge on Monday temporarily blocked California from enforcing a highly controversial law that bars licensed psychotherapists from working to change the sexual orientations of gay minors, but he limited the scope of his order to just the three providers who have appealed to him to overturn the measure.

U.S. District Court Judge William Shubb in a decision just hours after a hearing on the issue, ruling that the First Amendment rights of psychiatrists, psychologists and other mental health professionals who engage in “reparative” or “conversion” therapy outweigh allegations that the practice poses a danger to young people.

Another federal judge in Sacramento is considering similar arguments from four more counselors, two families and a professional association of Christian counselors.