WASHINGTON – This morning, Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) introduced the “Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act,” a bill that would ban so-called “conversion therapy” for LGBT individuals. In response, Rabbi Jack Moline, executive director of Interfaith Alliance, released the following statement:
“This bill gives explicit, legislative voice to what many of us who have worked with families and in faith communities across the country have known implicitly for years: LGBT identity is not a disease, and any attempt to ‘cure’ identity is fraudulent and dangerous. I commend Rep. Lieu for taking this step to protect LBGT individuals and their families from the false representations and harmful practices of conversion therapy’s advocates. I urge Rep. Lieu’s fellow members of Congress to take swift action in support of this bill.
“This legislation goes to great lengths to protect the First Amendment and safeguard the rights of religious communities. When a service-provider seeks to make a profit off of its alleged treatments, it must be subject the rules and guidelines of the Federal Trade Commission and medical and counseling standards – no matter how much the provider is cloaked in the guise of religious language. We must also remember that these peddlers of conversion therapy intentionally prey on families of faith. Barring them from selling and advertising their services will make our congregations and religious communities safer places for all.”
Interfaith Alliance celebrates religious freedom by championing individual rights, promoting policies that protect both religion and democracy, and uniting diverse voices to challenge extremism. Founded in 1994, Interfaith Alliance brings together members from 75 faith traditions as well as those without a faith tradition to protect faith and freedom. For more information visit www.interfaithalliance.org.