New Jersey Bans Gay Conversion Therapy

Gay men holding hands. — Men holding hands.

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New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has signed a ban on gay conversion therapy.

In a note explaining his rationale, Governor Christie said he believes that people are born gay and that homosexuality is not a sin, the Associated Press reported. Scientific studies show that genetics may partly explain a person's orientation. Christie is a member of the Catholic Church, which believes that having a same-sex orientation isn't a sin, but that acting on same-sex attraction is wrong.

In June, one of the most famous gay conversion therapy organizations, Exodus International, closed its doors and its president issued a lengthy apology for the damage he caused. The American Psychological Association stopped classifying homosexuality as a disorder in 1973, and in 2009 a task force found that gay conversion therapy is ineffective and can cause depression, thoughts of suicide and loss of sexual feelings.

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Tia is the editor-in-chief (premium) and was formerly managing editor and senior writer for Live Science. Her work has appeared in Scientific American, Wired.com, Science News and other outlets. She holds a master's degree in bioengineering from the University of Washington, a graduate certificate in science writing from UC Santa Cruz and a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. Tia was part of a team at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that published the Empty Cradles series on preterm births, which won multiple awards, including the 2012 Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism.