The New York Times reported Wednesday night that President Obama will call for a
national ban on conversion therapy this week, and boy do we need it. Just look
at Colorado.
Colorado
legislators were somehow able to legalize marijuana, and perhaps it is
because they’re so blazed off their asses now that the state
Senate voted down a bill that would ban gay conversion therapy on minors.
Did
we say blazed? We meant Republican. Who would have thought?
The
bill failed 3-2, with Veterans and Military Affairs Committee. Republican
Sens. Ray Scott of Grand Junction, Jerry Sonnenberg of Sterling and Owen Hill of
Colorado Springs voting to kill the bill.
Democratic
Sens. Andy Kerr and Pat Steadman voted for the ban.
And
besides the vote stinking to high hell, here’s the really gross part:
Hill
sent an e-mail to his supporters explaining his ‘no’ vote, filled with such
pearls of wisdom as: “I am hesitant to use the heavy hand of government to take
away the dignity of choice in cases where individuals want this therapy.”
Choice?!
How about the gay youth who have no choice but to submit to their parents’ will
and be traumatized by the harmful practice?
Senate
Democrats put out their own statement, expressing dismay over the outcome.
“Republicans
on the Senate Judiciary Committee decided to allow the dangerous and widely
discredited practice of conversion therapy to continue today, denying
legislation that prohibits the practice on minors,” it says.
“Conversion
therapy is nothing short of abusive. Not only is it ineffective, it harms
children. It can cause depression, substance abuse problems, and even suicide,”
added Sen. Pat Steadman, D-Denver, the bill’s sponsor.
“Growing
up is hard to do, and there are even more challenges when you are questioning
your sexuality. We need to teach young people acceptance, not shame.”
via Denver Post
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