A new California bill aims to punish therapists who counsel people about how to overcome
gender confusion. It would add reparative therapy to a list of fraudulent business practices.
http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180AB2943
"Unlawful business practices: sexual orientation change efforts."
This California Bill Could Criminalize the Bible’s View on Homosexuality
It is already illegal in California to sell reparative counseling to a minor. This bill aims
to expand the ban to include adults. It becomes law if it passes the Senate and is signed
by the governor.
https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/04/19/lawmakers-move-to-limit-gay-conversion-therapy-in-california/
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http://www.californiafamily.org/oppose-ca-ab-2943-ab-1779-and-ab-2119-reference-materials/
http://www.californiafamily.org/2018/assembly-votes-to-violate-the-1st-amendment/
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Assemblyman Evan Low, the homosexual lawmaker who introduced the bill to the California state
legislature, says reparative therapy is harmful and should be outlawed. But other lawmakers worry
that this bill aims to censor free speech and infringe upon religious freedom by muzzling discussion
concerning gender confusion.
https://www.newsweek.com/gay-conversion-therapy-free-speech-california-ban-899668
“AB 2943 would amend the California Consumer Legal Remedies Act—a consumer law that outlaws
unfair and deceptive practices—by adding so-called ‘sexual orientation change efforts’ to a list of
banned practices,” wrote Monica Burke, a research assistant at the DeVos Center for Religion and
Civil Society. “It would, in effect, ban all practices that the state deems attempting to change one’s
sexual orientation—including practices as indirect as the publishing of certain material.
This expansive law would impose widespread censorship that could implicate authors, speakers,
counselors, colleges and universities, and even religious leaders seeking to address unwanted
same-sex attraction or gender identity confusion.”
Assemblyman Low told skeptics that the bill does not impede freedom of speech or religion because
it applies only to commercial and financial transactions. Therefore pastors and therapists can still
counsel people about how to overcome gender confusion as long as no financial transaction happens.
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Christian groups have pointed out that a ban on advertising or selling services that help a person
overcome gender confusion and same-sex attraction could be broadly interpreted to ban the sale of
certain books—including the Bible.
http://www.ncregister.com/daily-new...conversion-therapy-bill-take-aim-at-the-bible
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Attorney Anthony Sampson, who advises Assemblyman Low’s office, assured the Associated Press
that the vaguely worded bill would not be interpreted to ban books. Instead, it would only apply to
“practices” and counseling services. Not everyone believes Sampson.
http://rockrivertimes.com/2018/05/07/california-bill-would-not-ban-bibles/
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Calif. bill already impacting religious expression
Summit Ministries, a Colorado-based organization that teaches that homosexuality is a sin, has
decided to cancel a summer conference at Biola University in the Los Angeles area.
http://www.bpnews.net/50858/calif-bill-already-impacting-religious-expression
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A study published in the New Atlantis concludes that no genetic evidence supports the idea
that people are born homosexual or transgender. These conditions develop after birth.
https://www.thenewatlantis.com/publications/number-50-fall-2016
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The American Psychological Association says, “There is no consensus among scientists about the
exact reasons that an individual develops a heterosexual, bisexual, gay or lesbian orientation.”
http://www.apa.org/topics/lgbt/orientation.aspx
But the Bible reveals that there is an exact reason why people develop psychological
conditions like gender confusion and same-sex attraction.
“For although they knew God they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they
became futile in their thinking and their senseless minds were darkened. …
Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their
bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped
and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever! Amen. For this reason
God gave them up to dishonorable passions. Their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural,
and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one
another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in their own persons the due penalty
for their error” (Romans 1:21, 24-27; Revised Standard Version).