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Progress: LGBT bill to ban therapy for youth on sexual orientation issues is stalled in Mass. Legislature

The result of relentless pro-family lobbying!

Bill was skipped over in Wednesday’s House session after “hold” was put on it. But battle continues.

POSTED: January 29 2016

UPDATE 2/5/16: Thanks to the outstanding lobbying, calling, and emailing by MassResistance activists bill H97 continues to be stalled in the Massachusetts Legislature. The House met again in a full "formal" session on Wed., Feb. 3. Although the bill was technically listed on the calendar, it was put at the end and its "hold" was not lifted.

What happens in Massachusetts on “culture war” issues is often repeated across America.

After weeks of hard lobbying to stop Bill H97 in the Massachusetts Legislature. we’re happy to report some success. Just before this week’s formal House session, a “hold“ was put on the bill and it was not acted on. But the battle will continue.

The Mass. House session on Wed., Jan. 27.

Part of a national movement in Legislatures across America

Bill H97 is a big part of the LGBT movement’s War on Children. It would make it illegal for licensed therapists to give critical treatment to youth on sexual-orientation or gender-identity issues. It’s particularly devastating for kids who have been sexually molested and need help dealing with the emotional fallout.

Similar bills have been rejected by 20 states and passed in three. But they consider Massachusetts a major goal to get it moving everywhere else. It’s being pushed here by a coalition of state and national pro-LGBT organizations. And of course, it’s being actively opposed by MassResistance.

MassResistance activists lobby in the Mass. House

As we’ve reported, Bill H97 was on track for House passage. It was co-sponsored by 36 legislators – a “who’s who” of the far-left contingent. It glided through three committees. It was put the calendar for the formal House session for a so-called “second reading” on Jan. 21, then postponed to Jan. 27.

MassResistance quickly got moving. Last week teams of MassResistance activists went office to office in the State House. They handed out material and explained it.

In addition, our activists from across Massachusetts and all over America (as far away as New Mexico and California, and even from Canada) called, emailed, and engaged the Mass. State Reps on the dangers of this bill.

Our people really came through! One man in New Jersey, who had been molested by several homosexuals as a teenager and subsequently struggled for years with homosexual behavior, was particularly upset.  He wrote a very moving letter concerning H97 which he emailed to Massachusetts State Reps. He gave us permission to post it. Read his letter here.

Once they were properly educated, a surprising number of Democrats as well as Republicans realized how terrible this bill is and why it is so unpopular around the country.

A “hold” put on the bill – blocking it for now

Word got around the State House.

The day before the Jan. 27 House session we were informed by a Republican legislative director an official “hold” had been put on H97 by the GOP leadership. Sure enough, when it came up during the session the chair announced it had a hold and it was skipped.

But Bill H97 will continue to be on the calendar. The next formal session which will likely be this Wed., Feb. 3. A “hold” on a bill by the minority party is tenuous. There are ways for the other side to overrule the hold. But the fact that a lot of Democrats are also against the bill is significant – and the  bipartisan opposition seems to be growing.

We are optimistic. Even if it is voted on and passes the “second reading” in one of the upcoming House sessions, it would go to another House committee before it comes back to the full House for a final vote. A lot can happen – and we hope to make things happen!

More coming to counter Bill 97!

We haven’t stopped informing the Legislature on Bill 97. In fact, we’ve just gotten started!

A number of professional groups, including the American College of Pediatricians have contacted MassResistance and have prepared excellent materials for us to distribute in the State House. Just this week, a psychiatrist representing a group based in Arizona sent us dozens of copies of an important book, A Young Man’s Journey – Healing for young men with unwanted homosexual feelings, to deliver to legislators. (The group has already sent copies directly to the leadership and key committee members.)

We will be passing these out soon. And we will keep you up to date on what’s happening – and what you can do to help.

Status of other critical bills to watch:

Here’s the status of are two other major bills by the LGBT movement and allied radicals in the State House:

• Planned Parenthood bill mandating comprehensive sexuality in schools. (S2062).  Passed the Senate and is in the House Ways and Means Committee. At this time it does not seem to be moving. We’ve been told that Committee members are not pushing for it.
• Transgender public-accommodations “bathroom” bill. (H1577).  Is still in the Judiciary Committee, but could emerge at any time. According to news reports, they’re waiting to see if the leadership can get a “veto-proof” majority in favor of it. Even the trans activists don’t seem to have a handle on when that could happen.

A final note

A lot of people think that “liberal” legislatures are impenetrable. We say: Not true! Keep trying!