"Bad judges" upholding bans on "ex-gay" therapy are "cooperating with the demonic spirit inside of the homosexual addict," says antigay preacher and Colorado state legislator Gordon Klingenschmitt in his latest rant.
"The Holy Spirit of God is a healing God, and he would come perhaps as a healer through the psychotherapist to heal the homosexual of their sinful addiction," Klingenschmitt said Monday on his online Pray in Jesus Name program.
When governments enact laws against therapy designed to change a person's sexual orientation and judges uphold them, they "are now reinforcing the sin and saying you cannot be delivered, you cannot cured, you cannot be healed," Klingenschmitt added.
His comments were spurred by a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision not to review a case regarding New Jersey's ban on the use of "conversion" therapy by licensed professionals on minors. The Supreme Court therefore let stand a lower court ruling upholding the ban; it did the same a year ago regarding California's similar law.
Oregon this week joined those two states and the District of Columbia in barring licensed therapists from subjecting minors to the discredited and harmful practice, which has also been condemned by President Obama and other top federal officials. And today in the U.S. House, Reps. Ted Lieu and Nancy Pelosi introduced a bill that asks the Federal Trade Commission to declare such therapy fraudulent and therefore illegal for the treatment of any age group.
As the state laws affect only state-licensed professionals and the proposed federal law deals with only practitioners who charge for services, clergy members and other church-affiliated counselors continue to be free to engage in such practices.
Klingenschmitt, a former Navy chaplain who has often made virulently homophobic statements, was elected last year to the Colorado House of Representatives from a district that includes a portion of Colorado Springs. He announced in April that he will not run for reelection next year but will instead seek a seat in the state Senate.
Watch his rant on the "demonic spirit" below, courtesy of Right Wing Watch.