Chris Christie "does not believe" in gay conversion therapy, says spokesman

A day after the governor appeared to equivocate on the issue, a spokesman for Gov. Chris Christie, R-N.J., told the Newark Star-Ledger that he does not endorse a controversial practice known as "gay conversion therapy," which attempts to "convert" gay individuals to a straight lifestyle.

The spokesman did not indicate whether the governor's stated opposition to the practice would compel him to sign a bill, currently working its way through the New Jersey legislature, that would ban it.

"Governor Christie does not believe in gay conversion therapy," said spokesman Kevin Roberts in a statement obtained by the Star-Ledger. "There is no mistaking his point of view on this when you look at his own prior statements where he makes clear that people's sexual orientation is determined at birth."

Just yesterday, when the governor was asked whether he would sign the a bill banning gay conversion therapy, he seemed torn: "I'm of two minds just on this stuff in general," he said, according to the Star-Ledger. "Number one, I think there should be lots of deference given to parents on raising their children."

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"On bills that restrict parents' ability to make decisions on how to care for their children, I'm generally a skeptic of those bills," he added. "Now, there can always be exceptions to those rules, and this bill may be one of them."

His waffling drew a heated condemnation from State Sen. Barbara Buono, Christie's likely Democratic opponent in his upcoming 2013 reelection race.

"I couldn't believe the stunning level of ignorance" Christie's comments showed, she said, according to the Star-Ledger. "Gay children don't need to be cured," she added, calling conversion therapy "nothing short of child abuse" and a "cruel and damaging practice of trying to shame children into being someone they're not."

[Brianslee]

Canadian jihadist and convicted terrorist Omar Khadr is back on Canadian soil, released in 2012. When the news media ask the childs mother about his crimes she replied it was better to have him as a terrorist then a Homosexual. The Muslin world hates us because the liberal push for a homosexual US. Homosexuals account for a very small 4% of the US population. Our unemployment is at 16%, Gas is $4 a gallon. Who gives a rats butt about homosexuals when we face massive poverty

[Brianslee]

With the liberals cutting the DoD and taking away our guns, the Terrorist can easily invade the US and kill all the Homosexuals, I will look to them as liberators and praise allah for their cleansing of America

[knsn_for_cmn_sense]

iam4honesty replies: Michele Bachman's hubby only does it to meet young guys.
JV1970 replies: iam4honesty That's only your opinion. You don't know that to be a fact.
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http://www.cnn.com/Michelle_Bachmans_husband_gay_conversion"I_only_do_it_to_meet_young_boys".html

[knsn_for_cmn_sense]

Ooooh. He's gonna pizz Bachman off...

[rzarc2]

JV1970 replies:
Also the way a child is raised or brought up has much to do with whether they will be gay or straight. For instance it's my belief that boys should be taught from the beginning that they are boys and should be made to act like a boy and girls should be made to act like girls.
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Really? I guess my sister and brother in-law brought one of their sons up to be straight and the other to be gay. I was wondering how THEY caused one to be gay and the other not.

JV, you are an idiot!

[raymailhot]

Chis Christie has the right to not go through it. Or is it he doesn't want anyone to have the right to go through it?

[TJphoto]

You are either gay or you are straight, and it's from the day you are born. Deal with it. Oh wait, the Bible says it's wrong! OK Now will someone tell me who wrote the Bible? Is there a signed copy anywhere? After all it is a best seller! Ask any Republican.

[facelessdrone2005]

The more I hear about Christie, the more I like him. He seems like a level-headed Republican, which is an endangered species these days. The "conversion" practice IS stupid but it's not the place of government to get involved to ban it. I hope the whacko Republicans don't sink this guy's 2016 chances.

[YouthAllies_dot_com]

This "counseling" is dangerous stuff. For a great resource on this issue, endorsed by a slew of mainstream professional groups, check out
www.apa.org/pi/lgbt/resources/just-the-facts.aspx

Mike
www.youthallies.com

[oldoc44]

Perhaps some counseling would be helpful to help a young person work thru their sexuality but the idea that anyone should or could reverse their gender orientation is probably bogus therapy. I seem to recall that Michelle Bachman's hubby does this gender re-bending stuff based on some biblical concepts or whatever.

[iam4honesty]

Michele Bachman's hubby only does it to meet young guys.