Sanford Jay Rosen and Ben Bien-Kahn of Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld LLP, representing survivors of the anti-gay therapies known as “sexual orientation change efforts” (or SOCE) and the sister of a man who committed suicide after being subjected to SOCE as a child, filed two Amicus Curiae briefs with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals urging the court to uphold California’s Senate Bill 1172.  This new law protects lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth from the serious psychological harms caused by state-licensed therapists who use these dangerous and discredited practices to try to change their patients’ sexual orientation.

In the Amicus Curiae briefs, James Guay, Ryan Kendall, Peter Drake, John Metzidis, and Maris Ehlers recount their powerful stories of the damage and pain that they and their families suffered because they were exposed to this junk science in the guise of “therapy,” illustrating the serious risk that thousands of California youth will be severely and irreparably harmed if SB 1172 does not go into effect.

Two separate lawsuits challenge the law’s constitutionality.  In Pickup v. Brown, the judge denied a motion to delay enforcement of SB 1172 until the case is resolved, whereas in Welch v. Brown, the judge granted a motion to prevent enforcement of the law against the three plaintiffs in that case.  Oral argument in bothcases will be heard before the one panel of judges in the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on April 17, 2013.

You can read the Amicus Curiae briefs here:

SOCE Pickup Amicus Curiae Brief of Survivors Urging Affirmance 2-6-13

SOCE Welch Amicus Curiae Brief of Survivors Urging Reversal 02-04-13

National Center for Lesbian Rights Press Release, February 7, 2013, “Leading Mental Health Professional Organizations, Health Care and Constitutional Scholars, and Social Services Providers Urge Appeals Court to Uphold California Law Prohibiting Dangerous Psychological Practices to Change Minors’ Sexual Orientation, Ten Friend-of-the-Court Briefs Describe Severe Harms Caused By Therapists’ Attempts to Change Sexual Orientation”