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PaperclipPerfector  2d ago (text post)   7533 thread views

Culture War Roundup for the week of March 30, 2026

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Just to make sure I follow, is the TL;DR of this that it's illegal to not maximally encourage trans/queerness in therapy, even when neutrality is what the client is asking for?

Or is this sort of therapy really just laundered gay conversion treatment?

The statute provides for a fine, probation, or loss of license for a licensed therapist from practicing "conversion therapy", defined as:

... any practice or treatment by a licensed physician specializing in the practice of psychiatry that attempts or purports to change an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity, including efforts to change behaviors or gender expressions or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attraction or feelings toward individuals of the same sex.

with exceptions for :

Acceptance, support, and understanding for the facilitation of an individual's coping, social support, and identity exploration and development, including sexual-orientation-neutral interventions to prevent or address unlawful conduct or unsafe sexual practices, as long as the counseling does not seek to change sexual orientation or gender identity; or [a]ssistance to a person undergoing gender transition

The state further argued, not very credibly, that the law only really would apply to specific changes to sexual orientation or gender identity, and not changes to gender expressions or sexual attraction despite the clear text of the statute. In theory, it would also prohibit trying to teach a straight man how to be gay? Since the law was never applied, it's hard to say much about either hypothetical.

The plaintiff here was only asking in regards to cases where the client asked for that specific assistance, so this decision could plausibly be read to apply only when the client is specifically asking for not-queer/trans advice, though that's going to depend on what the lower court does when (if) issuing the injunction.

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