Court upholds N.J. ban on ‘ex-gay’ therapy

Chris Johnson | Washington Blade | November 9, 2013

A law signed by Gov. Chris Christie upholding a ban on ex-gay therapy in the state was upheld as constitutional (Photo by Bob Jagendorf via Wikimedia Commons).

A federal court in New Jersey ruled on Friday the recently signed law barring “ex-gay” sexual orientation conversion therapy for minors in the state is constitutional.

U.S. District Judge Freda Wolfson, an appointee of former President George W. Bush, upheld the law signed by Gov. Chris Christie in August on the basis that the law restricts neither speech nor religious freedom.

In the 66-page decision, Wolfson writes the arguments presented by plaintiffs are “counter to the longstanding principle that a state generally may enact laws rationally regulating professionals, including those providing medicine and mental health services.”

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Is a discharge petition ‘the only way’ to pass ENDA?

Chris Johnson | Washington Blade | July 16, 2013

Gay McCain-Feingold co-author Trevor Potter says a discharge petition is “the only way” to pass ENDA. (Photo courtesy of Caplin & Drysdale via Wikimedia Commons).

The gay co-author of the bipartisan campaign finance reform law known as McCain-Feingold says LGBT advocates could take a lesson from the way that measure passed into law — a discharge petition in the U.S. House — to advance the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.

Trevor Potter, a Republican attorney with Caplin & Drysdale who specializes in political law, told the Washington Blade on Tuesday that a discharge petition is “the only way” to get ENDA passed while Republicans remain in control of the House.

“Given the House GOP leader’s opposition to ENDA, and resulting refusal to schedule it for a floor vote, the ONLY way to get it passed in the House is by way of a discharge petition,” Potter said via email. “If the petition gets close to 218 signatures, then the leadership will negotiate.”

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