FROM condemnation to the courts. Gay 鈥渃onversion therapy鈥�, the controversial counselling for gay people who wish to change their sexuality, is now in the dock.
Last week, four men in New Jersey filed a civil suit under the state鈥檚 against a counselling centre called . The men claim that they spent thousands of dollars in therapy fees, only to be told that their continued same-sex attraction was 鈥渢heir own fault鈥�.
Meanwhile, advocates for the counselling are trying to block a new California state law that has banned its use with minors.
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Helen Killaspy of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in London says that there is no scientific evidence that sexual orientation can be changed. 鈥溾�楾reatments鈥� of homosexuality create a setting in which prejudice and discrimination flourish,鈥� she says.
鈥淪exuality is so hardwired that trying to convert somebody is set up for failure,鈥� says psychologist at Nottingham Trent University, UK.
