Jacob Rudolph, the LGBT teen from New Jersey who came out at a school awards ceremony, testified before a state Senate committee on Monday, calling for a statewide ban on gay-to-straight conversion therapy.
The measure being considered by the state legislature, A3371, would prohibit counseling that seeks to change the sexual orientation for any person under the age of 18.
In testimony before the committee, Rudolph said, “Like every other LGBT person, I am not broken, I am not confused, and I do not need to be fixed.”
“It is beyond baffling to me that anyone might actually believe that sexual orientation is a lifestyle choice that can be altered if desired.”
Watch:
Rudolph had also created a petition at Change.org, calling on New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie to support the legislation; the petition has received over 112,000 signatures.
The Senate panel advanced the bill by a vote of 7 to 1. It now heads to the full Senate for consideration.
Earlier this year, during an acceptance speech for being awarded “class actor,” Rudolph stood before 300 classmates to tell them he had “been acting every single day” of his life as “straight Jacob.” Video of Rudolph’s coming out has more than 1.7 million views on You Tube.
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thats bullshit….they tried to tell me it’s “just a phase”.
Mighty long “Phase”, eh?
David, that is what I was told to but I never changed
Breathing is just a phase as well.
Those conversion therapies are torture. They’re almost as bad as the techniques the Nazis used.
Good for this young man!!!
He should NEVER have to go through “conversion therapy” nor should any other gay/lesbian/bi/trans/straight (oh, I’m sorry–STRAIGHT people are apparently superior!!!) person! That is ridiculous. Who cares if he is gay? It doesn’t matter. Love is love. Sexual orientation shouldn’t matter to anyone except the person who is making the decision over their own body.
LGBTQS for life!
It’s despicable what people do to change things they don’t understand. Good for this guy!
Homosexuality doesn’t need a cure, period – Homophobia does!
This is making me think, you can probably change someone’s whole personality with therapy.
Proud of you, Jacob
Way to go, Jacob Rudolph! :)
hut ab !
If the gay-to-straight conversion is wrong, what about the forced normalization surgery in intersex?
I think someone should come up with a straight to gay conversion therapy, and when they try and shut it down they can sue since gay to straight therapy is ok according t some people then so should straight to gay therapy.. lol
……and the child shall lead them.
A teenager who is smarter than most adults!
One of our shining stars!
Good for him.
Pfft, ‘conversion therapy’. Load of bullshit they try to shove down your throat (like their beliefs/cult) to try and change you. FIGHT ON!
You’re Brave dude :3 From all of us who want to take a stand too, but aren’t quite sure how or can’t, Thank You!!
Jacob, love and encouragement from a lesbian who grew up in the 70s and came out in the 80s. Power to the queers