# California wants to ban books about changing an individual’s sexual orientation. **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 19, 2018, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-wants-to-ban-books-about-changing-an-individual-s-sexual-orientation/812704 "2018-04-19T13:53:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-wants-to-ban-books-about-changing-an-individual-s-sexual-orientation/812704/121 "2018-04-25T15:48:32Z")
> [@puddleglum](#): > > … > > This despite the fact that the only harm the bill claims could be done is heightened anxiety and its not like gay people have never been anxious before. > … Is this you claiming that the only harm that attempted gay conversion therapy is is heightened anxiety? Not sure the second part of your sentence, there. The only way I can see to parse it is that if a demographic is used to being persecuted, then continuing that persecution is acceptable? ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-wants-to-ban-books-about-changing-an-individual-s-sexual-orientation/812704/122 "2018-04-25T15:54:48Z")
> [@puddleglum](#): > > However, chiropractors, homeopaths, organic farmers, vitamin dealers, etc. are all allowed to ply their trades and sell expensive placebos as long as they let people know they are not doctors and not engaging in medicine. No, they’re not. They’re allowed to engage in practices or sell products whose efficacy may be controversial, but they’re not allowed to engage in provable dishonesty and outright fraud. Take a look at some of the advertising in old magazines from, say, the 1930s. They’re full of “miracle” cures and devices that don’t work. Most such advertising would not be allowed today. It’s not “censorship” and it’s not “book banning”, it’s good riddance to fraudsters preying on the gullible. > [@puddleglum](#): > > This is different because as you say, everyone in the state is banned from the practice regardless of what training they have or what claims they make for it. This despite the fact that the only harm the bill claims could be done is heightened anxiety and its not like gay people have never been anxious before. That tells me that singling out this one type of practitioner to outlaw is political. Those in power in California do not like the practice and that is the reason to ban it. It is an expression of raw political power and as such is obviously unconstitutional. Banning fraudsters and con artists is not unconstitutional. It’s part of the function of responsible governance. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-wants-to-ban-books-about-changing-an-individual-s-sexual-orientation/812704/123 "2018-04-25T15:58:28Z")
> [@puddleglum](#): > > This despite the fact that the only harm the bill claims could be done is heightened anxiety and its not like gay people have never been anxious before. I’m seeing more than that there: \*The potential risks of reparative therapy are great, including depression, anxiety and self-destructive behavior … Evidence shows that the practice may actually cause emotional or physical harm to LGBT individuals, particularly adolescents or young persons.”\* Also many mentions that various associations found the practice to be harmful without going into specifics. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-wants-to-ban-books-about-changing-an-individual-s-sexual-orientation/812704/124 "2018-04-25T17:56:19Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Oh, I guess I get it now. But the point stands. While conversion therapy may be more vile, from a consumer protection POV homeopathy is far and away a greater issue than conversion therapy in California. I would generally disagree. Unlike gay conversion homeopathy isn’t in and of itself harmful, its just ineffective. This is the reason the FDA doesn’t bother regulating homeopathic remedies. As long as the inactive ingredients aren’t toxic they know there won’t be any harmful side effects. Gay therapy on the other hand isn’t just ineffective, its outright harmful. If a trainer of seeing eye dogs decided to drum up buisness publish a book “20/20 vision in 7 days”, that has as its first step using concentrated hydrochloric acid eye wash, I would hope that those people who went blind following the would be able to sue him. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-wants-to-ban-books-about-changing-an-individual-s-sexual-orientation/812704.md?page=6)