In a notable legal development, Virginia’s prohibition on talk therapy aimed at altering a minor’s sexual orientation, known as “gay conversion therapy” by critics, has been nullified following a lawsuit initiated by two Christian counselors.
John and Janet Raymond, in conjunction with the Virginia Department of Health Professions, reached a consent decree last month in Henrico County’s Circuit Court. This decree, which has recently been disclosed, prevents the state from enforcing the ban against the Raymonds and other similar counselors.
The legislation, HB 386, originally prohibited licensed professionals from attempting to alter a minor’s sexual orientation or gender identity, labeling such actions as unprofessional conduct subject to disciplinary measures. Despite this ruling, the ban still applies to non-talk therapy methods like electric shock. Each party involved in the lawsuit will cover its own legal costs.
Prior to the law’s enactment in 2020, the Raymonds frequently offered counseling to minors on various issues. However, following the legislation, they significantly reduced their minor clientele.
The Raymonds, who run the Associate Counseling Center, offer counseling services rooted in a Christian worldview, encompassing marital, familial, and individual therapy. They challenged the 2020 ban, introduced during Democratic former Gov. Ralph Northam’s tenure, citing conflicts with their religious beliefs concerning sexual orientation and gender identity.
The Founding Freedoms Law Center, representing the Raymonds, hailed the court order as a triumph for free speech and religious liberty. Shaun Kenney, a spokesperson for Republican Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, expressed satisfaction with the decision, emphasizing its role in safeguarding religious freedoms and free speech. “This court action fixes a constitutional problem with the existing law by allowing talk therapy between willing counselors and willing patients, including those struggling with gender dysphoria,” Kenney remarked.
Known also as “reparative therapy,” this form of counseling seeks to diminish or eliminate same-sex attractions. Although it faces significant opposition from mainstream psychiatric and LGBT advocacy groups, who argue it poses risks to LGBT teens, the conservative American College of Pediatricians supports its use for addressing psychological distress, including anxiety and depression.
The American College of Pediatricians warns that state bans on such therapies could inhibit even client-driven therapeutic exploration aimed at reconciling with one’s biological sex. They highlight an increase in “gender-related psychological distress” among American youth, advocating for therapy that allows for change as a legitimate approach.
Upon signing the bill in 2020, Northam stated that the therapy “sends the harmful message that there is something wrong with who you are” and cited its discreditation in studies due to potential long-term harm to youth, including increased depression and suicide risks.
This legal context gains further complexity as the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to review a challenge against Colorado’s conversion therapy ban, with plaintiffs claiming it infringes on First Amendment rights. The American College of Pediatricians has filed a brief, criticizing Colorado’s law for restricting client-initiated therapeutic discussions that diverge from state-endorsed gender ideologies, particularly in cases where underlying mental health issues are present.
This article was originally written by www.christianpost.com
