Bill Text: NJ AJR94 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Supports U.S Senator Cory Booker's efforts to persuade Federal Trade Commission to prohibit practice of sexual orientation change efforts.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-04-14 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Human Services Committee [AJR94 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-AJR94-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman TIM EUSTACE
District 38 (Bergen and Passaic)
Assemblyman REED GUSCIORA
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
SYNOPSIS
Supports U.S. Senator Cory Booker's efforts to persuade Federal Trade Commission to prohibit practice of sexual orientation change efforts.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Joint Resolution supporting U.S. Senator Cory Booker's efforts to persuade the Federal Trade Commission to prohibit the practice of sexual orientation change efforts.
Whereas, United States Senator Cory Booker recently co-signed a letter to Federal Trade Commission Chair Edith Ramirez, expressing concerns about the continued practice of sexual orientation change efforts (SOCE), commonly referred to as "conversion therapy," which purports to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity; and
Whereas, Conversion therapy, also known as "reparative" or "sexual orientation" therapy, is a practice that has been widely discredited by nearly all major American medical, psychiatric, psychological, professional counseling, educational, and social work professional organizations; and
Whereas, In 2009, the nation's largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology, the American Psychological Association, conducted a systematic review of the evidence on SOCE, which concluded that "efforts to change sexual orientation are unlikely to be successful and involve some risk of harm, contrary to the claims of SOCE practitioners and advocates"; and
Whereas, Perhaps most concerning are the effects of conversion therapy on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) children and youth, who are already at increased risk of suicide, substance use disorder, and engaging in other high risk behaviors as compared with their peers; and
Whereas, Therapeutic support can be useful for children and youth who are LGBT or questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity, resulting in more confidence and acceptance, which are important elements of healthy child development. However, conversion therapy provokes guilt, anxiety, and societal rejection that negatively affects the healthy development of children and youth, contrary to the claims of SOCE practitioners; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Governor and the Legislature of New Jersey express their support for Senator Booker's efforts to persuade the Federal Trade Commission to take all actions possible to stop the practice of sexual orientation change efforts under the authority provided to the agency in the Federal Trade Commission Act.
2. Copies of this
resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the
Clerk of the General Assembly or the Secretary of the Senate to each member of
Congress from this State and to the Commissioners of the Federal Trade
Commission.
3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This joint resolution expresses support for U.S. Senator Cory Booker's efforts to persuade the Federal Trade Commission to take all actions possible to stop the practice of sexual orientation change efforts (SOCE), under the authority provided to the agency in the Federal Trade Commission Act.
SOCE, commonly referred to as "conversion therapy," "reparative therapy," or "sexual orientation therapy," purports to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity. This practice has been widely discredited by nearly all major American medical, psychiatric, psychological, professional counseling, educational, and social work professional organizations.
In 2009, the nation's largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology, the American Psychological Association, conducted a systematic review of the evidence on SOCE, which concluded that "efforts to change sexual orientation are unlikely to be successful and involve some risk of harm, contrary to the claims of SOCE practitioners and advocates."
