King v. Christie, No. 13-5038, U.S. District Court (DNJ); opinion by Wolfson, U.S.D.J.; filed November 8, 2013. DDS No. 10-7-1952 [66 pp.]
On Aug. 19, 2013, New Jersey Gov. Christopher Christie signed into law Assembly Bill No. A3371 (codified at N.J.S.A. 45:1-54, -55), which prohibits New Jersey state-licensed practitioners who provide professional counseling services from treating minors using methods of Sexual Orientation Change Efforts (SOCE), more commonly known as “gay conversion therapy.” A3371 precludes persons licensed to practice in certain counseling professions from engaging in the practice of seeking to change a minor’s sexual orientation. In passing this statute, the New Jersey Legislature determined, inter alia, that this type of treatment subjects minors to potentially harmful consequences.
