Earlier this week, I covered Amazon’s ban on several books touting gay conversion therapy (here).
On June 20th, I wrote an article about New York’s ordinance making such therapy illegal — so if you’re a grown man or woman wanting therapeutic help to not be gay, the government says it’s smarter than you and it’s pulling rank (here).
But in Israel, the country’s education minister is speaking up for such help.
Orthodox Rabbi Rafael Peretz told the nation’s Channel 12 last month that he believes conversion therapy can be effective.
In addition to his position as education chief, Rafael’s head of the United Right party.
And here’s what he had to say:
“I have a very deep familiarity with the issue of education, and I have also done this.”
He recalled providing such a service to a guy struggling with homosexuality:
“First of all, I embraced him. I said very warm things to him. I told him, ‘Let’s think. Let’s study. And let’s contemplate.’ The objective is first of all for him to know himself well … and then he will decide.”
Israel’s LGBT Task Force — an advocacy group — wasn’t happy. They labeled his viewpoint “benighted.”
Also not impressed: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who released a statement.
“The education minister’s remarks regarding the pride community are unacceptable to me and do not reflect the position of the government that I head.”
But Rafael believes he has a responsibility as a religious leader, amid his desire to show respect for all people regardless of their sexual preference:
“I honour everyone as people. I admit that I, personally – I am a rabbi of Israel. Our Torah tells us other things. But that does not mean that I look about now and give them grades.”
Whether the treatment is effective, in the U.S., it seems to me, New York’s legislation is an assault on liberty. When it comes to our personal choices, it’s largely outside the governmental purview to decide what’s best for us. Both parties have, at times, revealed a penchant for opposing me in that regard, but it’s my belief. What has made America great isn’t “diversity” or any of the latest, trendy terms. What makes the United States something worth fighting for is liberty. I’d be happy with the elected few overseeing the maintenance of our roads. But as for the direction of our individual adult lives, don’t legislators have some TV shows to catch up on or something?
As for gay therapy itself, what do you believe about such treatement? Please let us all know in the Comments section.
-ALEX
Relevant RedState links in this article: here and here.
See 3 more pieces from me:
Almost In Time For Pride Month: The London Zoo Celebrates Gay Mating, Gay Animals, & Gay Parents
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