Liberty Counsel LOSES Bid To Stop California's "Ex-Gay" Therapy Ban

Liberty Counsel's suit to block California's "ex-gay" therapy ban was shot down today by a federal judge who reached the opposite conclusion of the judge who yesterday temporarily ruled differently in a separate suit brought by others. Via press release from the National Center for Lesbian Rights:

The Court’s decision was prompted by a lawsuit filed by the National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality that challenges the new law protecting LGBT youth from practices—including the use of shame and aversion therapy—that are known to lead to depression and suicide attempts. The group is represented by Liberty Counsel, an anti-LGBT legal group. In rejecting the groups’ request to temporarily prevent the statute from going into effect on January 1, Judge Mueller concluded that the California law "prohibits a therapeutic practice deemed unproven and potentially harmful to minors by ten professional associations of mental health experts."

Judge Mueller’s decision follows another decision yesterday by Judge William B. Shubb, also of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, in another case brought by a different set of plaintiffs who are also challenging the California law. Judge Shubb issued an order temporarily exempting three plaintiffs in that case from being subjected to enforcement of the law while the case proceeds in his court. Judge Shubb’s order applies only to the three plaintiffs in the case before him and does not prevent the state from enforcing the law against other licensed mental health professionals. Judge Mueller’s decision today clears the way for the law to go into effect on January 1, 2013.

After today's ruling, Liberty Counsel head Mat Staver said that he plans to seek an emergency injunction to block the bill until his appeal is heard.