CONTACT:
Deborah Hamilton, Hamilton Strategies, 215.815.7716, 610.584.1096, ext. 102, or Beth Harrison, 610.584.1096, ext. 104, Media@HamiltonStrategies.com
SPLC Has Won the Battle But Not the War with Guilty Verdict in JONAH Trial
Licensed Psychotherapist Christopher Doyle Says JONAH Was Unable to Get a Fair Trial Due to Judicial Bias, Looks Toward Appeal
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Jurors
for the David vs. Goliath trial between Jews Offering New Alternatives
for Healing (JONAH) and the Southern Poverty Law Center deliberated for
three hours today and found JONAH and its leaders guilty on several
counts of consumer fraud for therapy efforts to help those with unwanted
same-sex attractions.
Licensed professional counselor Christopher Doyle, a leader in the #TherapyEquality movement of Equality And Justice For All (www.equalityandjusticeforall.org) and
a former homosexual who offers sexual identity affirming therapy, says
the verdict is a major blow, but is optimistic that an appeal will
vindicate JONAH, provided the organization is allowed to defend itself
in a fair and impartial trial.
“Today’s
guilty verdict for JONAH is the consequence of liberal judicial bias,”
said Doyle, who is also the director of the International Healing
Foundation (www.comingoutloved.com).
“Before and during the trial, Judge Peter Bariso stripped JONAH of so
many opportunities to really defend themselves, disqualifying five of
the six expert witnesses for the defendants because their opinions
contradicted the so-called mainstream view that same-sex attractions are
not at all disordered, even if a client is distressed by these unwanted
sexual feelings because of their sincerely held religious and spiritual
beliefs. The judge’s bias against religious freedom was so ruthless
that he even refused to allow JONAH’s chief attorney to mention
the First Amendment freedom of religion in his closing argument. This
verdict sends a chilling message to anyone of faith who either offers
counseling or wants to receive counseling to overcome unwanted same-sex
attractions.”
According to NJ.com,
which covered the trial, “In the first case in the nation to put the
controversial practice on trial, the jury concluded that Arthur Goldberg
and Elaine Berk, the founders of Jews Offering New Alternatives for
Healing in Jersey City and life coach Alan Downing to whom JONAH
referred patients, ‘engaged in unconscionable commercial practices’ and
misrepresented their services.”
Yet,
Doyle added, multiple times during the trial it was revealed that the
plaintiffs understood that JONAH’s services were not guaranteed, and
even expert witnesses for the plaintiffs acknowledged that sexual
orientation is fluid and can change.
“While
the jury heard many success stories from witnesses who resolved their
unwanted same-sex attractions, it apparently was not enough to override
the SPLC’s constant misrepresentations of JONAH’s work,” commented
Doyle. “The SPLC was not successful at proving JONAH committed consumer
fraud, taking advantage of a liberal judge who hamstringed the
defendants while feeding the jury a steady diet of mischaracterizations
on the work of JONAH. One of SPLC’s expert witnesses even described the
small Jewish non-profit as a ‘cult.’ It’s hard to imagine why the
plaintiffs were allowed to throw the kitchen sink at JONAH while the
judge tied the small non-profit’s hands behind their back, unable to
defend themselves. It’s simply unconscionable.”
Over
the past month, the right to therapy has been under increasing assault.
U.S. Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) introduced a federal ban on talk therapy
for unwanted same-sex attraction and sexual identity confusion.
President Barack Obama has expressed his support for such a ban, and
U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) sent a letter to the Federal Trade
Commission calling for an “investigation into the claims and advertising
practices of therapists who administer so-called ‘conversion therapy.’”
Doyle has issued a public challenge to Rep. Speier to debate on the
issue during June’s Pride Month observation.
Doyle
and the #TherapyEquality campaign have been actively involved in
fighting proposed bans on sexual identity affirming therapy in several
states. Over the past several months, Washington, Colorado, Virginia and
Nevada rejected bills that would ban talk therapy for minors in an
effort to protect the rights of minors and sexually abused and sexually
confused youth who seek voluntarily therapy for their unwanted same-sex
attractions. These states joined at least 10 others in 2015—as well as
an additional 15 states in 2014—that have either voted down or failed to
advance this harmful legislation.
More
than 50,000 licensed medical and mental health professionals support
the rights of youth to receive such therapies, including the American
Association of Christian Counselors, the Alliance for Therapeutic Choice
and Scientific Integrity, the Catholic Medical Association and the
American College of Pediatricians.
Equality And Justice For All will co-host the Safe Exit Summit
on Oct. 2-3 in Washington, D.C. with Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays
& Gays (PFOX). The event will focus on equipping churches to become
safe exits for individuals seeking to resolve unwanted homosexual
attractions. ###
To interview Christopher Doyle, contact Deborah Hamilton at 215-815-7716 or 610-584-1096, ext. 102, or Beth Harrison at 610-584-1096, ext. 104, Media@HamiltonStrategies.com.
International Healing Foundation
(IHF), founded in 1990, believes some live a heterosexual, homosexual,
bisexual, transgender or transsexual life, while others are unsure about
their sexuality and seek to explore alternatives. IHF upholds the
rights to self-determination and values the right of autonomy, and is
committed to helping people on their journey of self-discovery. IHF’s
goal is to promote healthy individuals and relationships, while
assisting in the healing of families, communities and places of worship.
Equality And Justice For All
is the only civil rights organization that works to further the general
welfare of the ex-gay community by promoting fair and equitable laws
and policies protecting their rights. By furthering individual
self-determination and liberty for former homosexuals, the organization
strives to reduce bigoted representations of the ex-gay sexual
orientation status, ensuring that ex-gays and their friends and families
can be open, honest, safe and respected in a diverse society.
