Calif Senate OKs 'conversion therapy' ban

The California Senate has approved a bill to prohibit psychotherapists in the state from using so-called conversion therapy in treating homosexual minors. The vote Wednesday was 23-13 but opponents of the bill say it is overly broad and could interfere with therapists' ability to talk about sexuality and sexual identity with adolescent patients, the Los Angeles Times reported. The bill's sponsor, state Sen. Ted Lieu, said he developed the legislation after hearing accounts of gay teens taking their lives or sinking into depression after therapists pushed them to change their sexual identities, the newspaper said. "These therapies are dangerous," Lieu said. The California Psychiatric Association opposed the bill. Lieu said he was open to addressing opponents' concerns as the legislation advances to the state Assembly.