Christie undecided on ban of controversial 'gay conversion therapy'

By Jenna Portnoy/The Star-Ledger 
on March 20, 2013 at 7:07 PM, updated March 21, 2013 at 7:37 AM

STONE HARBOR — Gov. Chris Christie said today he's undecided on whether the state should ban the controversial use of "gay conversion therapy," but the Republican governor still opposes same-sex marriage.

Christie said that he only knows little about the method. California enacted a law prohibiting the practice, but a federal court has blocked its implementation.

"I'm of two minds just on this stuff in general," he said at a news conference at Stone Harbor Elementary School. "Number one, I think there should be lots of deference given to parents on raising their children. I don't — this is a general philosophy, not to his bill — generally philosophically, on bills that restrict parents ability to make decisions on how to care for their children, I'm generally a skeptic of those bills. Now, there can always be exceptions to those rules and this bill may be one of them."

As is his practice with most legislation, Christie said he had yet to look at the bill and won't until it gets to his desk.

After a hearing in Trenton on Monday, the Senate’s health committee approved a bill that would ban licensed counselors from using “conversion therapy” on gays. Supporters called the practice damaging and demoralizing, while bill opponents accused state lawmakers of interfering with the counselor-patient relationship and intruding on parents' rights.

Asked about Ohio Sen. Rob Portman's decision this week to support same-sex marriage after his son revealed to him he is gay, Christie praised Portman, a Republican, in general, but didn't budge on his stance.

"But as far as how it affects my view, no," Christie said, "because that question implies that somehow this is a political judgment and for me it's not."