Aaron Blitzer, a California college student and a self-proclaimed “ex-gay” who says he’s studying to become a “pray away the gay” therapist, filed suit Monday in federal court seeking to block California’s groundbreaking new law that bans “ex-gay” therapy for minors.
Blitzer is joined in the lawsuit by San Diego minister Donald Welsch, a licensed family therapist who operates a Christian counseling center, and Dr. Anthony Duk, a Catholic psychiatrist. California Governor Jerry Brown and 21 other state officials are named as defendants, including representatives of the California Board of Behavioral Sciences and the California Medical Board. Blitzer, Welsch, and Duk allege that the new law infringes on their constitutional rights of free speech, privacy and free exercise of religion. Blitzer additionally claims that the law prevents him from entering his chosen field, while Welsch and Duk say it would restrict their counseling practices, ABC News reports.
It will be interesting to see whether the court agrees to hear the case or tosses Blitzer’s suit out as frivolous (which, by the way, it is — this Washington Post column from Becky Garrison explains why); we’ll keep you posted. We’ll also let you know as soon as we’re able to find out the name of the university that’s allowing Blitzer to obtain a degree in “ex-gay” therapy. . .
h/t: Queerty’s Dan Avery
How would this law prevent them from freely exercising their religion? Because they wouldn’t be able to lie to their clients and tell them that it’s wrong to be gay because “their” religion says so? Last I heard, we have freedom of religion and anyone can go to the church, synagogue, mosque or temple of their choice. What they can’t do is be professional counselors who lie and use techniques proven to be damaging to gay and lesbian people.
All they’re going to accomplish from this lawsuit (if it isn’t tossed out) is having “ex-gay” therapy discredited in front of the law.
Blitzer, Welch and Duk – is that a veterinary office?
As I understand, this law contains an exception for religion-based SOCE. So all Mr. Blitzer needs to do is claim to have sincerely held superstitious beliefs, and he’s given a free pass to engage in SOCE without the need for a license!
What religion considers child abuse to be a part of worship?
This will go to trial. Summary judgment is only available when there are no issues of fact in dispute.
John: Have you read the Liberty brief? Staver proves his consummate ineptitude.
The “exercise of religion” should only cover going to house of worship and praying. It’s ridiculous how any arbitrary activity can be a religious one these days. And the courts usually go along with it. As a result the US is a de facto theocracy already.
Here’s another suit that was filed today (seriously):
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An Indian man in Phoenix who claims that he can transform cancer cells with his thoughts says in court that jealous former employees have defamed him online as a sexual predator.
Mahendra Trivedi says his organization “collaborates with research institutions to promote scientific progress and to develop solutions to global problems through the use of energy transmissions that have the potential to transform living organisms and non-living materials.”
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Staver loves religious crackpottery. Go for it.
Amazing how they’re all coming out of the woodwork to prove what child predators they all are.
I seriously suspect the so-called ex-gay planning a career in ex-gay therapy has visited TWO. If he did he undoubtedly learned this junk therapy is a fantastic method for getting in contact with young men and getting them undressed.
The religious nuts can tell any kind of lie they want within the walls of their church, temple or mosque, which they have been doing for hundreds of years.
But they should not be allowed to perpetrate them as a public service outside the the walls of their religious structure. It’s all about easy money and a lot of denial with many of these so-called “therapists.”
“The student, Aaron Blitzer, who is studying to be a therapist in that field, said the law would prevent him from pursuing his career”
The psychological abuse of minors cannot be designated a legitimate career.
“The student, Aaron Blitzer, who is studying to be a therapist in that field, said the law would prevent him from pursuing his career”
Isn’t that the whole point?