Gay Conversion Therapy Group Targeted In Historic Consumer Fraud Complaint

Gay Conversion Therapy Group Targeted In Historic Consumer Fraud Complaint

A group of civil rights organizations are filing a historic consumer fraud complaint with the federal government on Wednesday, charging that a group purporting to change people's sexual orientation or gender identity is engaging in deceptive business practices.

The Federal Trade Commission complaint comes from the Human Rights Campaign, the National Center for Lesbian Rights and the Southern Poverty Law Center, and it goes after People Can Change. These so-called "conversion therapy" businesses try to make people "free from the constant pull of homosexual desires," as the PCC website says.

"Anecdotal evidence that change is possible is abundant. ... But the evidence is even much more than anecdotal. In more than 50 years of research, including 48 studies we will reference here, there are data and published accounts documenting easily more than 3,000 cases of change from homosexual to heterosexual attracting, identity and functioning," reads the site.

But as the groups' complaint notes, there is no reliable scientific evidence backing up these claims. Major mainstream medical groups have, however, found that there is evidence demonstrating that conversion therapy can be harmful to an individual. And the entire practice stems from the once accepted -- but now discredited -- belief that homosexuality is a mental disorder that can be cured.

This is some interesting news. So one of those evil gay conversion therapy organizations has had a consumer fraud complaint filed against them with the US Government. The reasoning being that their claims of being able to successfully convert someone from being gay to straight have no scientific basis and have actually been discovered to make people worse, and it is all based on the discredited idea that homosexuality is a mental disorder.

And don't think there isn't precedent for doing this either. Another group was successfully cited back in June for this.

The strategy of going after the advertising of groups like PCC is relatively new, arising from a successful lawsuit by SPLC in New Jersey. In June, a jury found that a nonprofit conversion therapy group called JONAH (Jews Offering New Alternatives For Healing) was guilty of consumer fraud for promising that men could overcome their sexual urges toward other men.

The stack of cards is coming down for this Christian hate industry. Oh I get it, parents are just trying to "help" their children, but they aren't helping. They are rejecting who their child is. If they truly wanted to help their children they'd SUPPORT them. Sending your child to a place like this is just mean and shows that your intolerance is more important than loving your own child.

California, Illinois, New Jersey, Oregon and the District of Columbia have laws protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth from conversion therapy, and 21 other states have introduced similar legislation.

In October, the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration released a report calling for an end to the practice for LGBT youth.

Some additional reading:
5 Things I Learned At A 'Pray Away The Gay' Camp
5 Things You Should Know About Gay Conversion Therapy

Oh thank you lawd...thank you Jesus for this!!! LOL *sarcasm off*. Anyone who would send their child to one of these places needs to have the custodial rights to their children evaluated and if found by the investigating party to be providing a hostile or damaging environment to the child then they should have the child removed and placed in the home of any loving relative that will have them.

a reply to: RainbowPhoenix

Seriously. I first heard about these camps from that South Park episode where Butters went to one. All the kids kept committing suicide and their one "success" case was CLEARLY in denial. Then I read that Cracked article I linked at the bottom of my OP and learned that South Park was downplaying their evilness. YIKES!

a reply to: Krazysh0t

If homosexuality is a mental disorder then so is hetrosexuality inasfar that if the conversion therapy had any basis in scientific fact then a hetrosexual could also be converted to become a homosexual.

and as a hetrosexual, no amount of conversion therapy would make me become sexually attracted to the same sex - EVER, just as I'm sure homosexuals would have the same mindset.

This ships getting old, live and let live and if one thinks that God will mete out punishment for being a homosexual then because you are not God, let God mete out his apparent punishment when we're dead and leave judgement upon the living to God.

IMO, the Gay conversion therapy group should pack it in and get a real job.

a reply to: Krazysh0t

Snake Oil salesmen. That's all these people are. They saw a market and exploited naïve people.

But there will always be gullible people willing to buy the snake oil.

Although I agree these groups are evil and should not exist. I have a hard time believing they can be shut down by a consumer fraud lawsuit.
All they have to do is roll out one person that has been "cured" to prove that it works.
They likely didn't guarantee results.
The old "results may very" defense.

a reply to: DBCowboy

True. There will ALWAYS be a market to the gullible. That's why QVC is in business still.

originally posted by: Krazysh0t
a reply to: DBCowboy

True. There will ALWAYS be a market to the gullible. That's why QVC is in business still.

I thought such places were illegal in the US now, or was that a proposed law, or am I just using wishful thinking?

a reply to: Nexttimemaybe

This was at the end of the article:

California, Illinois, New Jersey, Oregon and the District of Columbia have laws protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth from conversion therapy, and 21 other states have introduced similar legislation.

So it's more a state to state thing.

a reply to: Krazysh0t

Then I read that Cracked article I linked at the bottom of my OP and learned that South Park was downplaying their evilness.

I read that article too. I was appalled. I'm not a big fan of psychotherapy anyway. And seeing it used as a weapon is most disturbing!

They physically tortured an 11 year old boy as they made him watch gay porn. Add to that all of the other shaming and psychological reprogramming and you wind up with a kid that is totally screwed up for life. I don't know how he could ever overcome the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder that they inflicted on him.

If these charlatans could produce evidence of even one success, that would have to be balanced against all of the cases of suicides caused by their treatment.

-dex

originally posted by: Krazysh0t
a reply to: Nexttimemaybe

This was at the end of the article:

California, Illinois, New Jersey, Oregon and the District of Columbia have laws protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth from conversion therapy, and 21 other states have introduced similar legislation.

So it's more a state to state thing.

Thanks for clearing that up. I was going to add state to my question. But figured it had enough commas already.

Sorry I didn't read the article, but I have such disdain towards the practice I had no desire to read it.

originally posted by: Krazysh0t
a reply to: DBCowboy

True. There will ALWAYS be a market to the gullible. That's why QVC is in business still.

Actually, I've purchased a kitchen appliance (blender-type thing), a set of portable lights and a multi-tool from QVC and all are of the highest quality and were priced fantastically. I object to the QVC insult.

a reply to: Nexttimemaybe

Yea, reading about these places is a quick way to get your blood boiling. Why a loving parent would send their child to one of these torture camps is beyond me.

a reply to: Krazysh0t

This is an article from April 2015 that provides some information about other states that have considered laws banning conversion therapy.

From that article it appears that the legislation is mostly being killed in their respective state legislatures. Apparently the Conservatives in those states don't think such a law is necessary.

-dex

a reply to: Krazysh0t

It's to save their souls!!

a reply to: DexterRiley

That's likely because they agree with it or represent districts where their constituents agree with it. There needs to be something done federally here. This is torture plain and simple. In fact, it is paying a business to torture your child. And the rates you have to pay to send your child there are ENORMOUS.

originally posted by: Krazysh0t
a reply to: Nexttimemaybe

Yea, reading about these places is a quick way to get your blood boiling. Why a loving parent would send their child to one of these torture camps is beyond me.

Because it is the parents who need the psychiatric help, not the kid.

On topic: The people that run these torture chambers are no different than the Aztec's ripping out the hearts of their sacrifices to please their gods.

a reply to: Krazysh0t

This could open the flood gates; those who have suffered emotional trauma from these camps could also make a claim.

However in a sick way these camps could reinforce a persons sexuality and sense of self; If I was sent to a camp to curb my political incorrectness I'd come out swearing like a sailor on shore leave, and I hope that these kids come out of the camps as failures and refuse to be broken and embrace their lifestyle.

The parents need a finger wagged in their face as well-These folk want a pre conditioned kid they can mold into what they want the kid to be and screw the kid's concerns. 'Daddies lil' slugger wants to learn tap dancing instead of being MVP' so daddies lil' slugger has to be sent to a camp for 'correction.'

These camps are a form of involuntary indoctrination. Or as Ned Flanders would say "reneducation."

a reply to: Thecakeisalie

Well from the looks of it, the previous lawsuit against JONAH opened the flood gates. Expect more lawsuits like this to arrive soon. Especially if this one comes back with a consumer fraud ruling.

I hope this, and following lawsuits, drain every penny these psychos have ever made.

& that's all I have to say on the matter.