This comes up from time to time.

Whether or not to ban the practice of “gay conversion” therapy, which would change the sexual orientation of gay and lesbian youths to heterosexual.

This is a laugh.

I wonder if someone who’s heterosexual can be “converted” into being gay. And as far as I’m concerned, it’s voodoo science.

Yet, many parents opt to place their kids in programs dealing with repairing what they consider to be a mental disorder.

According to this:

Jacob Rudolph, who gained national attention after he announced he was gay during a speech to classmates, has started a Change.org page and is petitioning Gov. Chris Christie to support legislation protecting minors from gay conversion therapy.

“I chose to come out in such a public way because (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender) youth need to know they are not alone,” Rudolph said on the petition’s page. “Now, I am asking for your help to encourage New Jersey’s governor, Chris Christie, to support a bill that would protect kids who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender from a dangerous practice.”

All new signatures on the petition are sent via email to Christie, Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, and Christie’s press secretary, Michael Drewniak.

Rudolph said the practice of gay conversion therapy is harmful and discredited. He said the therapy, “subjects teens to psychologically damaging ‘treatment’ by so-called psychology counselors who falsely claim they can ‘fix’ the sexual orientation of children who identify as being LGBT.”

As of 5 p.m. Tuesday, the petition had exceeded 58,000 signatures, and was adding a few thousand per hour. “After just a few days, the response is incredible,” he said. “It’s nice to get such support so fast. Christie would be wrong not to listen.”

Christie has yet to comment on whether or not he will support New Jersey Senate Bill S2278, which prohibits counseling attempts to change sexual orientation. Calls and emails to Christie’s Press Secretary Michael Drewniak seeking comment were not immediately returned.

Rudolph said New Jersey has the opportunity to not only protect kids from the emotional damage of gay conversion therapy, but to save lives as well.

There is a prescident in efforts to try and ban the therapy, although unsuccessful.

In California, a law banning gay 'conversion therapy' had been put on hold, because, according to another report:

The federal panel of three judges at the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Friday to block the law that would have prevented young people under 18 from undergoing the controversial treatment.

It would have gone into effect January 1.

The ruling will keep the law, the first of its kind in the United States, from being instituted until it can be argued at future court hearings.

Conversion therapy has been being hotly debated across the country.

Some psychologists insist conversion therapy is dangerous to patients, and say it simply does not work.

"To date, there has been no scientifically adequate research to show that therapy aimed at changing sexual orientation (sometimes called reparative or conversion therapy) is safe or effective," the American Psychological Association writes on its website.

"Furthermore, it seems likely that the promotion of change therapies reinforces stereotypes and contributes to a negative climate for lesbian, gay, and bisexual persons," says the APA, the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States.

David Pickup, a spokesman for the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality, believes conversion therapy is valid and should be used.

"We do competent therapy, therapy that truly works," he said in October, adding that he had undergone the treatment and was treating others.

I’ll bet anyone who’s been through the therapy would agree that it’s voodoo, but do you feel it should be banned for children under the age of 18?

I’ve always contended that the parents should be the ultimate decision makers of how to best treat their children.

Thus, until it’s shown to be the “voodoo” that some, including myself, say it is; the state has no right to ban it.

Do you feel the Governor should ban the practice of gay conversion therapy?