Juveniles May Need Guidance
From keeping the economy from sliding into a new recession to deciding on a sensible energy policy, Americans and our elected leaders should be thinking about a variety of issues that affect all of us. Yet one controversy affecting a tiny minority — those who consider themselves lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender –continues to hold its place near center stage.
Some liberal Ohio legislators plan to use the summer months to promote three LGBT initiatives. They hope to build public support for action in the General Assembly this fall.
One bill would set in place new safeguards against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in employment, housing and public accommodations. A second measure would include sexual orientation and gender identity under the state’s list of “biased-motivated crime.”
It is the third LGBT campaign that should concern Ohioans most. It would ban therapy intended to change the sexual orientation of minors.
A variety of behaviors are learned, not ingrained in us when we are born. Factors such as peer pressure and social norms can influence us dramatically, to the point of changing natural preferences. Discerning the difference can be quite tricky, of course.
But an outright ban on even discussing sexual orientation with a possibly uncertain boy or girl is, in two words, irresponsibly stupid. It is bowing to the current political correctness rather than being truly concerned about the well-being of juveniles. It interferes with parental rights.
It should never, ever be made the law in Ohio.
Advocates of such limits say that attempting to change a child’s sexual orientation can damage him or her psychologically. So can failure to offer a kind, objective helping hand to a youngster who may be truly confused about sexual orientation — perhaps as a result of exposure to cultural pressure that in some ways encourages juveniles to be either gay or straight.
If the well-being of Ohio juveniles really is the concern of legislators pushing for the ban, they will abandon it immediately.
COMMENTS