New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) is expected to sign a bill Monday that will prohibit licensed therapists from attempting to convert gay minors into heterosexuals, the Associated Press reported.
The AP obtained a bill with a signing note that will be released Monday. In the note, Christie said “he believes people are born gay and homosexuality is not a sin,” according to the AP.
It was previously unclear if Christie would ultimately back the bill, which passed both chambers of the state legislature in June. In March, Christie indicated that he was torn on the issue.
“I’m of two minds just on this stuff in general,” he said at the time. “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.”
Even after he clarified that he’s personally opposed to gay conversion therapy, Christie’s position on the legislation was something of a mystery. His signature on the bill Monday will make New Jersey the second state — following California — to ban the therapy, which is opposed by both the American Medical Association and the American Psychiatric Association.
Clarification: This post has been updated to clarify that it was previously unknown whether Christie would sign the bill.
