US: Appeals court upholds New Jersey gay ‘cure’ ban
A federal appeals court has moved to uphold the US state of New Jersey’s ban on gay “conversion” therapy for minors.
The Third Circuit US Court of Appeals on Thursday found that the law banning the practice, signed by Governor Chris Christie last year, does not violate the free speech or religious rights of counsellors who offered the service.
The court wrote that the state of New Jersey has a “substantial interest in protecting its citizens from harmful or ineffective professional practices.”
Currently, the law states that counsellors are banned from using “sexual orientation change efforts” with clients aged under 18.
A Christian lawyer acting on behalf of counsellors said they “would not stop fighting” until the law, which he dubbed “unconstitutional”, is revoked.
