Federal Court upholds decision to ban the use of conversion therapy on minors

The 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals upheld New Jersey’s law to ban the use of conversion therapy on minors on Thursday, citing a wealth of scientific opinion finding the therapy harmful.

The law, labelled A3371, prohibits the therapy aimed at converting homosexuality or gender identity on minors, and was found to be constitutional by the federal court.

The challenge to the law was brought to court by the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH) and the American Association of Christian Counselors, who stated the law encroached on their freedom of speech as well as their religious beliefs. The court found that these arguments lacked merit and that regulation of health professionals trumped their arguments.

New Jersey statewide LGBT rights group Garden State Equality and the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) applauded the ruling with a statement:

“The court’s decision today is a major victory for the thousands of young people who will now be protected from these dangerous and horrific practices,” Andrea Bowen, executive director of Garden State Equality, in the statement. “No one should subject minors to conversion therapy — least of all state-licensed clinicians responsible for the care and well-being of their patients.”