This past Monday, a dramatic step forward has been taken by the legislatures in California. As announced in the October 1, 2012, article of The Oakland Press, California Governor Jerry Brown signed SB1172 into law, which officially banned a controversial therapy technique aimed at converting gay teenagers into straight individuals. As conversion therapy has been seen to mentally and emotionally destructive to teens, the new law prohibits all minors in the state of California from being exposed to future sexual orientation change efforts.
What California has done speaks far louder than the Governor’s voice. California has showed us that teens don’t need to be “cured” of their displays of self-expression. In at least one part of our society, there IS an understanding that people can and should freely be themselves, without guilt or fear of being forced to change. There IS an acceptance of Who We Are, and there IS the freedom that allows us to demonstrate it. Instead of seeing gay teenagers as a “black sheep” to society, they are being recognized as human beings with a mind and a soul. Who’s to say that it has to stop there?
With this new law, we as teenagers are beginning to understand that it’s OK to express Who We Really Are. We know this as truth, and finally, society is catching up to this as well. As high and mighty organizations such as the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, the California Association of Marriage and Therapists, and the California Psychological Association have recognized the negative effects of forcing us to be someone besides our highest self, the laws of the land are changing and transforming into a more open environment.
No matter if it is expression of sexual orientation, divine beliefs, or political policies, we as teens have more freedom and more ways to express ourselves than ever. We don’t need to be remedied of any single aspect of our highest selves. If you have ever felt the fear of simply “being yourself”, know that you have the freedom to be confident and be recognized for the joy of Who You Choose to Be. As our teenage years, and all of our years, are for the purpose of redefining Who We Are in the next grandest vision of the greatest version of ourselves, love to live your expression of the highest self.
(Lauren Rourk may be reached at Lauren@TheGlobalConversation.com.)
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