Supreme Court Asked to Hear Case on Free Speech, Homosexual Therapy

Washington, D.C.–Pacific Justice Institute filed a petition for certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court yesterday regarding a California law, SB 1172, that violates free speech and the rights of minors to receive professional counseling that they desire.

“Our Constitution was established to protect the people from renegade lawmakers,” said Brad Dacus, President of PJI. “This law is a prime example of legislators who care more about politically correct speech than free speech, and more about perks from special interest groups than the rights of children.”

SB 1172, signed into law in 2012 by Governor Jerry Brown, bans mental health professionals, including psychologists, psychiatrists, therapists, and others, from counseling minor clients in ways that would help alter or diminish unwanted same-sex attraction or behavior.

PJI won a preliminary injunction in U.S. District Court against SB 1172. On appeal, a three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit reversed the injunction. Later, a larger panel of the Ninth Circuit declined to re-hear the case but with dissent from Judge O’Scannlain, joined by Judges Bea and Ikuta, that urged the view that SB 1172 should be examined under free speech principles. Due to the litigation, for more than a year the law has not gone into effect.

PJI led the opposition to SB 1172 in the Legislature before filing suit against it. PJI represents a psychiatrist, a licensed therapist who also oversees a church counseling ministry, and an inpidual who deals with same-sex attraction and has benefited from the therapy now being banned.

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