>>This ban on reparative therapy is a direct assault on the right of parents to do what they feel is best for their children<<
I have to be very careful with my words or the patch moderator will intervene but you and some others are so misinformed about the subject of sexual orientation that it almost scares me that you're out there among us. Patch, is that ok? If not I'll tone it down lol.

Therapy is based on scientific practice and training. Not religious beliefs. Parents are still free to torture their children and send them to religious re-education camps or counseling as long as the "educators" are not hiding behind "professional licenses."

There is no science behind this "therapy", it's known to be a sham, scam, and a flimflam, it's a bigger lie than psychic readings and crystal balls, these supposed therapist should be arrested for abuse and torture.

No government should allow child abuse - and that's exactly what "reparative therapy" has been deemed by every legitimate authority on psychiatric care and child health and welfare in the world. If the parents want to abuse their child and subject them to this evil, then they deserve the chaos that comes with it.

Oh really??? Which party supported a constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage? And this is the party who claims to be a champion of states' rights!

Unlike the conservative lawmakers who try to force their views on contraception, sexual relations between consenting adults, same-sex marriage,LGBT military members, etc., etc., etc.....

Or want the Christian ten commandments posted in government buildings. And have you ever tried being sworn into a political position without using a Christian bible...OMG!!!

Answer to Four Score, It was Bill (i didnt have sex with that woman ) Clinton that signed the Defense of Marraige Act (DOMA) That defined marraige as being between one man and one woman. Also Clinton signed the 'Don't ask Don't Tell Act
for Military members,,,,Democrat

Dear Jack B Confused, You can't figure out what your position on the issue is. You and your ilk are never for government intervention in our private lives. Yet here again another example for the arms of government to protect institutionalization and irreligious torture for institutions and lethal programs to 'fix' (Henry VIII's Rack in the Tower) gay minors. How would you feel if your son or daughter was gay and came home after a whole day at school being terrorized and bullied. only to come home to a monster like you telling your child to be - must be - something they are not. Your house is a torture chamber demanding the arms of government to intercede putting you in a jail cell.

You can't be that ignorant. Or, maybe you can.

to Jordan Brown:
If you are really a therapist, you know that therapy is not coersion. I don't want knee-jerk Government that takes away choice and rights because of pressure from special interest groups. People that claim they are pro choice are pretty intolerant when it comes to issues that they disagree with.

As for your > I don't want knee-jerk Government that takes away choice and rights because of pressure from special interest groups< then we must assume you currently have a child that shows interest in the things normally associated with the opposite gender. And that you want to take advantage of this therapy, well that's your right so go ahead and take your chances. But if you don't have a family member you want to be part of this therapy, then why do you feel so strongly that it's such a good idea?

If you were in college when you went to conversion therapy, you were likely already 18 or over, and this law would not have affected your situation at all. Anyone 18 and over will continue to be perfectly free to pay to get smacked straight all they want. However, parents will no longer be permitted to force their underage kids to get smacked by quack therapists.

I know you're a troll but will reply anyway. You can't convert a straight male or female so their orientation is then gay. Need we say more on the whole subject?

and now you spend your time on Grindr looking for other "straight bro's" who just need to "help each other out."

Doug: I have news for you. You are gay.

https://www.change.org/petitions/gov-chris-christie-protect-new-jersey-kids-from-dangerous-anti-gay-conversion-therapy

Sexual preference isn't "behavior", and if your child is uncomfortable about their sexual feelings (as indeed, what teenagers isn't having sexual identity growing pains of some sort), the answer is to work with them and help them adjust to their reality. Not "fix" what's not broken.

If a child does feel uncomfortable when he/she discovers they're attracted to the same sex in forming a romantic relationship, it's caused by the way the parents reacted to the whole subject while they were growing up, and also all the ways religious teachings and some segments of society condemned it as sinful and an aberration.
And as for >the only behavior that can't be modified is sexual preference< I don't know if it's the only behavior but you're 100% correct about sexual preference.

Yes, Igor, let's DO see. Jail? Who said anything about putting parents or shrinks in jail? Ah, yes, Igor did! The article clearly states, "Counselors who violate the law would face sanctioning under their professional licensing board", but that was waaay down in the fifth paragraph.

The petition took about 25-30 seconds to read. I had to provide my name, physical address and email address. It did not require " a mouse click and nothing more". If you are going to sign Anything, you should, of course, READ it.

JONAH still exists and is based in Jersey City, NJ. While heavily focused on orthodox Jewish men, they have programs for all (Jews and non-Jews, males and females). You can check JONAH's website (jonahweb.org) for confirmation and further details. Jonah was founded and continues to be led by Arthur Abba Goldberg, a felon who was convicted of financial fraud before he shifted focus to his reparative therapy crusade. You can learn more about Goldberg on Wikipedia or via google. JONAH is currently being sued by the Southern Poverty Law Center for consumer fraud.

Oh no, they are going to make all of our kids gay! Seriously dude, people like you are the reason why this country is going down the crapper. 50 years ago I bet you would have been saying "things will get worse once the education dept has implemented the new "integrated" system in the schools.....this is just the begining...."

Yes, Igor, they are gay, even if they never act on it.

Yes, they are gay. Sort of like heterosexuals are still heterosexual before becoming sexually active, or during "dry" spells. This is an interesting question, but I say yes.

Hey Igor, step out of the 1950s and start calling it by it's accurate name: sexual orientation. Yes, someone who is attracted to the same sex and yet never acts on it is IN FACT, homosexual. That is the definition of sexual orientation.

YES! If you are sexually attracted to the same sex, you are gay. It's doesn't matter if you act on those feelings. If you're masquerading in a heterosexual relationship, pretending to be straight, that doesn't change who really turns you on.

Man, THAT must suck! I would lose my mind if I had to pretend to be attracted to men when what I am really turned on by is women. All because my family and friends are close minded bigots and I don't have the cojones to be who I really am.

@Scondo, I already replied to this when you posted the same comment above. There is no hoax. Look above for the detailed answer.

Scondo, here's an article concerning JONAH, located in Jersey City, if you're interested in something other than posting "it's a hoax" over and over. http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/11/27/15486181-four-men-sue-new-jersey-organization-over-gay-conversion-therapy?lite

Kristen, you will note that no one can answer the question other than to recite to Jonah, which , if you look at what follows shows it to be a shell type organization.
The 4 involved in the lawsuit were not from NJ, the suit was brought by SPLC, not by a local . I don't think that there is anyone providing this type of therapy in NJ, or at least there are none that I can find and that is after a pretty exhaustive on line search.

all but oneRepublican voted for it, but feel free to make this issue about bashing Republicans, after all The Con Artist in chief is doing such a wonderful job.

the people supporting this ridiculous therapy will also tell you that the earth is 6000 years old and and man co-existed with dinosaurs.

Also Ms. Bachmann's hubby makes a killing from it.

One signature on a petition exhibits way less OCD than posting six times on a local Patch site. Consider a hobby, Scondo.

Y'know what I'm sick of, Carey, old buddy? I'm sick of trolls who think that THEIR lack of interest is interesting. It's not. Why post about your ennui? Why suggest that everyone remain silent so you won't throw up? Turn off your computer, Carey, and stop telling everybody around you how sick and tired you are.