Governor Chris Christie says he's "undecided" about whether to ban "conversion" therapy for underage gays. He also admitted he doesn't know much about the controversial "therapy".
Christie's opponent in the New Jersey Governor's race, Barbara Buono, said he should have denounced the practice instead of saying he needed to learn more about it.
She's wrong.
To make an informed decision, every politician should be MORE like Governor Christie.
Firstly, the Governor admitted to not knowing. That is rare or nonexistent in politics.
Secondly, he gave a sensible explanation about why he feels the way he does. He explained that laws should not "restrict parents ability to make decisions on how to care for their children." Every parent in America should agree with that statement, shouldn't they? Obviously, there are laws that prevent parents from harming their children. The other side of this issue is whether this type of "therapy" is psychologically harmful to children.
The conversion therapy usually involves "praying the gay away" and is also based on the assumption that homosexuality is a mental disorder that can be cured. Homosexuality is not a mental disorder and anyone who believes otherwise probably has their own mental and social issues to deal with. But, for fun, assume that it is a mental illness. How many mental illnesses actually have a "cure"?
Chris Christie is not one to play politics. This is a delicate issue and there are many sides.
If parents are putting their kids in gay conversion therapy for religious reasons, is that okay? The United States does have Freedom of Religion; however, there are a lot of things in the Bible that are considered "abominations". Should there also be guilt therapy for abominations such as:
- A woman shall not wear a man's garment, nor shall a man put on a woman's cloak, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord your God. - Deuteronomy 22:5
- Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight. - Proverbs 12:22
- Unequal weights are an abomination to the Lord, and false scales are not good. - Proverbs 20:23
If parents are putting their kids in the therapy because they believe they are psychologically ill, is that still okay? Homosexuality is not a valid mental disorder. It was removed from the list in 1973.
If parents are putting their kids in therapy because they are embarrassed, angry, or for any other personal reason, it's probably not okay.
The Governor is an intelligent and reasonable person. The only reasonable defense to putting a child in this type of therapy is the religious one and that doesn't really hold water because prayer and church should "cure" the gayness in that case. Just because you gave birth to a child does not mean you can control their every thought and feeling, even when they are under 18.
Christie knows the right answer to this, but will he actually say it?
Image Source: AP Photo/Mel Evans
recommend
Facebook
Twitter
bookmark 
print
Comments: 30
"Chris Christie is not one to play politics. This is a delicate issue and there are many sides."
"Christie knows the right answer to this, but will he actually say it?"
I think you make very plain what I believe to be the bedrock truth here: Christie is absolutely playing politics here. He knows the "therapy" is horse shit but he doesn't want to offend the Republican base of religious bigots and wingnuts, so he is taking a "the jury's still out" approach as a shield.
Cynical.
That said, he's not really electable any more since he praised President Obama. His own party snubbed him for their last big dinner date because of it. He'll be gimped by that if a more radical opponent (gasp at the thought) runs against him. Hopefully, GOV Christie continues to learn and, eventually, speaks out against 'swift boating' using the knowledge he gains. It'll speak well of him if he starts torpedoing members of both parties who speak without knowing facts. I doubt it'll happen, but I'd be interested to see the hilarity that would ensue if he started poking holes in his fellow Republicans' lies as much as they attempt to do so to the Democrats.
I agree, your's is the best answer to a ridiculous question of what should never be a issue in a political campaign.
Real politicians, such as Christie has proven himself to be, know when to play coy, when to get aggressive, when to act above the fray,when to get involved and when to stay clear of an issue altogether.
Gov. Christie is absolutely no political fool, he knows full well that it would be political suicide to take one side or the other when dealing with extremist and/or religious issues. This particular issue being both. But, neither having anything to do with being elected to the Govenorship of New Jersey nor in serving the State of N.J. as it head elected official.
Gov. Christie as an astute politician, rightly declined to answer the question and his opponent, Barbara Buono, in her quest to put the Govenor on a spot, instead, has more than likely hurt her chances of succeeding Christie as the next Govenor of N.J. Which only goes to demonstrate that Ms. Buono is certainly not a polished politician nor is she a candidate who is capable of unseating Gov. Christie in the 2014 election.
Cure themselves of "WHAT" ?????????????
That is sad to hear. My sincere hope, that your nephew recovered from both the physical as well as the mental, undue and dangerous treatments he was subjected to.
The physician's retraction of his methods of treatment were not sufficient in my opinion. To me, the so called Christian psychiatrist should have had his license to practice permanently revoked and his clinic should have been closed by the state Medical Ethics Board. (I am assuming that he practiced his asinine and mentally harmful treatments within some type of clinic)
Unfortunately, there is far to little equality and fairness being shown to the GLBT people of America. As such, the humanitarian fight for equality must continue.
I really have no issue with what they do. I don't say they need treatment I say if they hate being gay and think it's an ailment don't stand in their way of trying to change it. I don't see you trying to strop transgenders from getting sex changes. They didn't feel right the way they were born and want to change it. Some gays feel the same way. Let them try to change it if that's what they want to do.
I know gay people. Yes.
""Do you even care that many gay people have killed themselves because this BS? I bet NO!""
Yes I do care. That's why I support a cure.
""And anyone wants treatment for being Gay is brainwashed that something is wrong with them. ""
How do you know that they weren't born to hate being gay?.
If you didn't know, I spent 36 years in the entertainment business. Stage, Theatre, Concert, Feature Fim, MOTW and Video. My last 11 years was spent as an International Representative for the IATSE Labor Union of North America.
Have been to Broadway many times and have attended several shows. Its all they say it is and more. Also in case you didn't know, R. F. was also associated with the entertainment industry before he retired.
I never would have guessed that R.F. had experience in drama (straight face) That being said, I had a stint in the entertainment industry while I was still in college. You and i are a lot alike Scott.
"" Are there treatments for guys who want to become gay. ""
Yeah it's called sensitivity training. I had to go through it for the company I work for and I almost caught gay.
Look, praying to cure homosexuality sounds asinine at best. I am just saying that if a gay person wants to give it a shot, who am I to stand in their way? I am not saying that a parent should have the right to force their child into it against their will either. I don't believe that it causes suicide either. I wasn't suicidal when I almost caught gay.
You guys live in prejudice and bigotry but your self righteous perception of yourselves blocks your ability to see how hypocritical you are. You liberals are worse that religion! You ARE a religion! That's why I am "blasphemous" (aka racist, homophobic, prejudice, ignorant, and in now way an atheist.) Did you know that for Christians, denying Jesus as you savior is worse than being gay?
Look, I fully understand that my sarcasm and crude statements give you ammo but you don't understand that it is by design. You are so hard wired to be offended and to pass judgment on others that you block the simple ability to put anything into context. You are full of hate for those who don't think like you and you can't even see it. Because you are righteous and those who disagree speak blasphemy.
For the record, I do not hate gays. My most important colleague is gay, who I hired. There was never any hiding of the fact that he was gay. He's a "flamer" (yeah I know... BLASPHEMY!!!). I support gay marriage. It saddens me that gays live with so much resistance. I think the gay community is an impressive, talented, constructive demographic that is far above average in terms of monetary contribution to our great nation. I think the republicans are asinine to alienate such an asset that would otherwise prefer right wing economics.
Before all of your name calling, bias and prejudice, I was only expressing my libertarian view that government should not have the right to block the choice for gays to try to cure themselves. You hate the word cure, I know, but you aren't the one committing suicide because you are gay.
Scott the more you write the more you expose your bias and prejudice, let alone your left wing self righteous blinders...
Look, if people want to be gay, more power to them. If they hate it, give them help. You can lecture me all you want on how being gay biological and their is no cure but give kids a chance to come to those terms on their own. Just because gays want more people into their "club" doesn't mean that their disbelieve in a psychological or medical cure is impossible. There has been lots of research into homosexuality and the defective gene that procures it, and scientists are very close to making homosexuals go the way of the dinosaur simply by giving the mother a supplement that blocks homosexuality. Let gays be gays let cures be cures...
Good question, however, medical science doesn't yet have a prescriptive medication for those who are religiously biased, prejudiced and paranoid. Such being, a multi staged mental disease which is self induced and exist only in the minds of sanctimonious self annointed keepers of God's Biblical word, as they piously interpret his words to mean.
Jeff
Now I know why R. F. was always on your case.
1) children HATE being gay
That statement is so ridiculous that it does not even deserve debate !
2) Just because gays want more people into their "club"
What Club are you referring to ? There are GLBT people in all walks of life, always has been, always will be. It is a society of people which are known as the human race. It's not a club, it's society, it's the human race and we are all equal members !!!
3) lots of research into homosexuality and the defective gene that procures it,
That is nothing but religious crock and bull from a person who produces no supporting evidence, because none exist, accept in your own twisted and biased mind !
4) scientists are very close to making homosexuals go the way of the dinosaur
An absolutely ignorant assumption which has no basis nor factual support. But yes, you are right on one part of your statement, that being, homosexuals have been members of the human race since the time of the dinosaur.
5) by giving the mother a supplement that blocks homosexuality.
The more you write, the more of an idiot you make of yourself, once again this statement does not deserve a debate, since there is no scientific basis for making such a statement in the first place .
FYI: Sane, caring and loving people of society except everyone for who they are, not who or what some religious nut thinks they should be !!!
Scott I am an atheist and I am opposed to religion of all kinds. I am not opposed to homosexuality and think that their demographic in it's entirety is a benefit to this country. They work hard, are extremely talented and are big contributors to America's culture. I simply think that those who want to be rid of their gayness should not be prohibited from doing so.
{I simply think that those who want to be rid of their gayness should not be prohibited from doing so.}
Your written comments are belittling and degrading to all people who by nature were born homosexual. If you knew anything about the science of human genetics, you would know that people do not choose to be a homosexual and you would certainly know, that age has no bearing on a person's sexuality.
Further, I don't believe for one second that you are an atheist, inasmuch as atheist are the most equality minded people on the face of the earth. They do not categorize others nor belittle those who are different from themselves. Atheist are known to fight for everyone's right to exist as an individual person and would never seek to rectify that which nature brought forth.
Thank you.
I understand what homosexuality is. If somebody wants to try to change or be rid of their homosexuality through gene therapy or other possible treatments coming down the pipe let them. I am not the one trying to tell people what they can and can not do. That's like telling transgenders that they can't have sex changes. Let people do what they want. This post is about banning something. Leave people alone!
Rory, I was blessed with superior genetics. Medication is for women and the weak.
So, a misogynist and a homophobe. Hardly surprising.
Not to forget, he (Jeff) also claims to be an Atheist which would be an oxymoron predicament, inasmuch as Atheist hold respect for all people, being neither biased nor prejudiced against others.
""Atheist hold respect for all people, being neither biased nor prejudiced against others.""
Thanks again.