May 6, 2013

The following statement was an addendum to PFOX’s press release of May 6, 2013 and is reprinted in its entirety: “ (PFOX) condemns the fraudulent hearing held by the New Jersey Senate Health, Human Services, and Senior Citizens Committee to pass a bill that will ban therapy for minors who experience unwanted same-sex attractions while allowing gay affirming therapy to be practiced. The bill, co-sponsored by Sen. Barbara Buono, will prohibit licensed mental health professionals from helping minors with unwanted same-sex attractions.

During the three-hour hearing, gay activists and other proponents of the bill testified to a parade of horribles. One such man, who self-identifies as a woman, testified that he was “tortured” in a youth camp setting as a teenager. Brielle Goldani, a transgender, told the committee that he was given electric shocks and drugs to induce vomiting in an effort to change his sexual orientation. But an investigative report published by Christopher Doyle, founder of Voice of the Voiceless, uncovered falsehoods behind the seemingly fantastic story and has exposed the testimony as fabricated.

“The Committee passed harmful legislation based upon lies,” said Greg Quinlan, president of Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays, which testified at the hearing. “We call on Senators Buono and Joseph Vitale, who chaired the hearing, to nullify the votes taken at the hearing and initiate a new hearing where testimony is given under oath. They must also apologize to concerned parents who testified against the bill for the Committee’s failure to question unverifiable testimony. Senators Buono and Vitale have not served their constituents well.”

“Senate Bill 2278 is an act of childhood endangerment and an unconstitutional attempt to deny parental rights. This unnecessary and intrusive legislation will turn New Jersey into a nanny state by violating the civil rights of parents who support their child’s right to receive therapy for unwanted same-sex attractions, especially when that child has been sexually molested by a pedophile like Jerry Sandusky and is now confused about his sexual orientation,” said Quinlan.

“The same mental health and allied health associations which were listed in sponsor testimony as proponents of the bill to ban unwanted same-sex attractions also state that sexuality is fluid, so their endorsement belies their scientific claims.”

“Denying children the right to receive full therapeutic assistance is wrong. Governor Christie must veto any ban on full mental health treatment for children, especially a bill based on lies like this one.”