California set to vote on banning books about treating unwanted homosexual attraction
The California State Assembly is slated to vote on legislation that has been interpreted as broad enough to ban the sale of books that address helping people overcome unwanted same-sex attractions. AB 2943 adds “[a]dvertising, offering to engage in, or engaging in sexual orientation change efforts with an individual” to the state’s list of illegal “unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices undertaken by any person in a transaction intended to result or that results in the sale or lease of goods or services to any consumer.” “ Sexual orientation change efforts ” are defined as “any practices that seek to change an individual’s sexual orientation.” The bill makes no exceptions for adults who actively seek such efforts, or minors whose parents have given their consent. (California minors are not currently required to obtain parental consent for abortions.) The bill passed the assembly’s Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee 8-2 and the