In oh-thank-God news, a federal judge has ruled that banning gay conversion therapy for minors does not violate anyone’s First Amendment rights.
After the state of New Jersey banned the practice, a family sued in federal court, arguing that their inability to subject their children to the awful practice violated their rights to free speech and free religion.
Pretty sure those rights don’t extend to child abuse, and wouldn’t you know it, a judge agrees.
In Judge Wolfson’s words, she “does not regulate speech, directly or indirectly, but rather only regulates a mental health procedure performed by licensed counselors or therapists.” She also referred to ex-gay therapy as a “pseudoscience,” adding:
“Surely it is undisputed that a state has the power to regulate not only medical and mental health treatments deemed harmful, but also those that are ineffective or that are based not on medical or scientific principles but, instead, on pseudo-science.”
“…the fundamental rights of parents do not include the right to choose a specific medical or mental health treatment that the state has reasonably deemed harmful or ineffective. To find otherwise would create unimaginable and unintentional consequences.”
We can only imagine what Maggie Gallagher is blabbering about this behind closed doors, but we’re sure it ain’t pretty.