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| California bans teenage gay conversion therapy | California bans teenage gay conversion therapy |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| California Governor Jerry Brown has signed into law a ban on therapy aimed at making gay teenagers straight. | California Governor Jerry Brown has signed into law a ban on therapy aimed at making gay teenagers straight. |
| When the law comes into effect on 1 January, the Golden State will become the first to outlaw the practice for people under the age of 18. | When the law comes into effect on 1 January, the Golden State will become the first to outlaw the practice for people under the age of 18. |
| The bill was backed by mental health groups, and gay rights activists say reparative or "conversion therapy" can increase risk of depression or suicide. | The bill was backed by mental health groups, and gay rights activists say reparative or "conversion therapy" can increase risk of depression or suicide. |
| Counselling and prayer is used to help some Christians deal with gay urges. | Counselling and prayer is used to help some Christians deal with gay urges. |
| The bill was signed over the weekend along with more than 100 pieces of legislation sent to the governor by California's state legislature. | |
| 'Junk science' | 'Junk science' |
| In a statement, Mr Brown said sexual orientation change efforts "have no basis in science or medicine and they will now be relegated to the dustbin of quackery". | In a statement, Mr Brown said sexual orientation change efforts "have no basis in science or medicine and they will now be relegated to the dustbin of quackery". |
| The Human Rights Campaign, an advocacy group, said: "We're grateful to Governor Brown for standing with California's children. | The Human Rights Campaign, an advocacy group, said: "We're grateful to Governor Brown for standing with California's children. |
| "LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender] youth will now be protected from a practice that has not only been debunked as junk science, but has been proven to have drastically negative effects on their well-being," the gay rights advocate added, urging other states to take up similar measures. | "LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender] youth will now be protected from a practice that has not only been debunked as junk science, but has been proven to have drastically negative effects on their well-being," the gay rights advocate added, urging other states to take up similar measures. |
| But the National Association for Research and Therapy on Homosexuality said the bill was a "legislative over-reach". | But the National Association for Research and Therapy on Homosexuality said the bill was a "legislative over-reach". |
| Some conservative groups have said banning the therapy would restrict a parent's right to care for children going through gender confusion. | Some conservative groups have said banning the therapy would restrict a parent's right to care for children going through gender confusion. |
| California is embroiled in a long-standing legal tussle over gay marriage. | California is embroiled in a long-standing legal tussle over gay marriage. |
| A law called Proposition 8 banned same-sex marriage in California just months after it had been introduced. But a court overturned the ban in 2010. | A law called Proposition 8 banned same-sex marriage in California just months after it had been introduced. But a court overturned the ban in 2010. |
| After an appeal was upheld, the matter may now come before the US Supreme Court for a final ruling. | After an appeal was upheld, the matter may now come before the US Supreme Court for a final ruling. |