Montgomery County's "Dr. [Rick] Fitzgibbons is an adjunct professor at the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family at Catholic University and is board member of the International Institute for Forgiveness, www.forgiveness-institute.org.  He is also a consultant to the Congregation for Clergy at the Vatican" (www.maritalhealing.com/practice/staff/staffprofiles.php).  As per Dr. Fitzgibbons, 
  • "Youth have the right to be provided with the accurate medical and psychological knowledge about homosexuality by pediatricians, mental health professionals, school counselors, educators and parents.  Presently, well-organized attempts are under way to attempt to block youth from being given both the appropriate scientific knowledge, and informed consent about: same-sex attractions, gender identity disorder, transsexual issues, the psychological needs of a child for father and mother, and marriage.....Youth have the right to be provided informed consent about the serious medical and psychiatric illnesses, and risks, of the homosexual lifestyle.  Pediatricians, mental health professionals, physicians, nurses and school counselors have a clear legal responsibility to do so, and parents, family members, educators, and clergy a grave moral responsibility" (2/16/11).
Last week, a U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld New Jersey's ban on allowing minors to receive treatment for unwanted sexual attractions (cf., Associated Press, 9/12/14)!  Pa's SB 872, ''Prohibiting mental health professionals from engaging in sexual orientation change efforts with an individual under 18 years of age" would mirror Jersey's legislation.   
  • "The push to ban sexual-orientation 'change' therapy for children is growing as lawmakers in at least eight states have introduced bills to outlaw the practice and gay-rights advocates expect at least a few to become law this year....Lawmakers in Florida, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia also have introduced bills to ban sexual-orientation change efforts for minors....The bills resemble laws in California and New Jersey....The bans on sexual-orientation change efforts are likely to 'follow the path of marriage equality,' with Maryland and Massachusetts the most likely states to approve bills this year, said Wayne Besen, executive director of Truth Wins Out....There is even hope that if California state Sen. Ted Lieu, author of the nation’s first ban on sexual-orientation change efforts, wins his race to fill the seat of retiring Rep. Henry Waxman, a Democrat, he will push for a national ban on such therapy for children.  U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier, California Democrat, has filed a resolution with 17 co-sponsors saying that Congress views sexual-orientation change therapy as having no legitimate purpose, and is dangerous and harmful to minors" (Washington Times, 2/16/14).
Despite what the media want us to believe, there is absolutely NOT agreement about these laws - to say the least!
  • "Orientation therapy has already helped many people change and live happy and stable heterosexual lives. The 1992 National Health and Social Life Survey found that without any intervention whatsoever, three out of four boys who think they are gay at 16 no longer think they are gay by the age of 25. The University of North Carolina's National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health survey of 10,000 teenagers found that the vast majority of 16-year olds who initially reported exclusive same-sex sexual attractions reported only opposite-sex sexual attractions one year later.  Despite media reporting and activist's claims that sexual remediation therapy is wrong and useless or harmful for helping minors change their sexual orientation, there is compelling evidence that people are not born gay. Such evidence also shows that orientation therapy is not at all harmful for minors whose goal it is to overcome having same-sex attraction. Views to the contrary are based on incorrect, non-scientific beliefs that disregard empirical evidence showing that, for many teenagers, sexual orientation is an unalterable trait" (Bucks County Courier Times, 12/18/13).
  • "A couple who wants to send their 15-year-old son to counseling to curb his attraction to other males is suing New Jersey over the state's ban on so-called gay conversion therapies for minors.  In August, Gov. Chris Christie signed into law a bill in that outlaws the therapies.... In the court complaint, the family alleges that the law violates their freedom of speech and free exercise of religion, as well as the parents' fundamental rights.... His 'unwanted same-sex attraction' was confusing and conflicted with his Roman Catholic religious beliefs, the complaint said.  He tried to kill himself multiple times, the court documents say, and eventually asked to go to counseling for help. After he began therapy to change his sexual orientation in 2011 in New York, the strength of his same-sex attractions dropped, according to court documents.... 'Because no licensed mental health professional in New Jersey can provide him with SOCE counseling, John Doe will substantially regress in the significant progress he has made with his current counselor,' the court complaint states..... Demetrios Stratis, the plaintiffs' attorney..., said that the new case deals with the family's ability to exercise freedom of religion and the fundamental rights of parents" (Jewish World Review, 11/18/13).  It has been reported that - last summer - a judge dismissed a "lawsuit filed by a New Jersey couple who said their rights were violated because the law prevents them from seeking treatment for their 15-year-old son" (Associated Press, 9/12/14).