July 2, 2025 The Newspaper Serving LGBT Los Angeles

Brown Signs Lara Bill Regulating “Troubled Teen” Industry

aaron-bacon-from-nicks-filmBY KAREN OCAMB  |  Simply put: this is huge. For decades, parents of LGBT youth, as well as youth deemed “troubled” and unruly, have been snookered by con artists spinning religious lingo into sending their children to “camps” that will “fix” the kid. The for-profit “troubled teen” industry is a billion dollar shake down that has lead to emotional and psychological child abuse, and sometimes death, as it did with 16 year old Aaron Bacon (pictured above) in 1994.

The industry is regulated in some states, but not as comprehensively as California after Gov. Jerry Brown signed SB 524, out State Sen. Ricardo Lara’s important bill, sponsored by the Los Angeles LGBT Center and Survivors of Institutional Abuse (SIA). This bill allows no exemption for religious-based businesses. In this post-Hobby Lobby era in which the religious right is going hog-wild trying to squeeze in religious exceptions for everything but breathing, the bill may face a “parental-rights” legal or initiative challenge in the future.

Good luck with that. In 2012, Brown signed SB 1172, banning the practice of so-called “conversion therapy.” In an email to the San Francisco Chronicle, Brown said: “This bill bans non-scientific ‘therapies’ that have driven young people to depression and suicide. These practices have no basis in science or medicine and they will now be relegated to the dustbin of quackery.”

Last year, the U.S. government issued a report condemned the practice as junk science, as well.

Nonetheless, unconscionable “troubled teen” camp promoters use “reparative therapy” as bait for fundamentalist religious families and if something goes wrong, or if their abusive methods are exposed—they simply pick up stakes and move to another location, perhaps under a different name to avoid the law, upset parents or creditors. Now that’s against the law in California.

“Today, Governor Jerry Brown became a hero to thousands of endangered youth—especially LGBT youth—when he signed a landmark bill that will save them from harm and even death,” Los Angeles LGBT Center CEO Lorri L. Jean said in a press release. “These programs can no longer shut down in one California city, after reports of abuse surface, and open in another California town to continue their abuse under a new name. No longer can these programs—many of which claim to be Christian-based—hide behind their cross, asserting religious exemption to continue torturing LGBT youth they claim they can ‘cure.’ Now, thanks to the actions of our state legislature and our governor, LGBT youth—and youth throughout the state—are protected from the abuses of this industry.”

“Today is a victory for the protection of our children,” Lara said. “Many facilities or camps that claim to help children are causing irreparable harm. With this bill we will provide oversight for these facilities to ensure that no child is the victim of psychological or physical abuse at the hands of adults they are told to trust.”

This is not a new effort—nor is it limited to California. SIA reports the deaths of more than 300 people—often young people who commit suicide—who are linked to these programs and the U.S. Government Accountability Office reported that in just one year (2005), 1,619 program employees—in 33 states—were involved in incidents of abuse.

“As a survivor of institutional abuse, I have been waiting 20 years for California to regulate these programs,” said Jodi Hobbs, president of SIA. “Too many kids have died or killed themselves because of what they experienced. Those who survive often suffer life-long trauma. Thank you, Governor Brown, for signing this legislation to protect youth from institutional abuse and to bring justice to those who are abusing our youth, our most vulnerable. Now, we’re going to take our efforts to a national level with the federal legislation that Congressman Adam Schiff has put forward. We are going to protect the youth across the United States.”

Rep. Adam Schiff (D- CA 28th District) is following up, as well, and joined Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL 27th District), the proud mother of a transgender son, the Center, SIA and Mental Health America at a Capitol Hill news conference last July in announcing HR 3060, the Stop Child Abuse in Residential Treatment Programs for Teens Act.

“Too often, these young people are sent away to these institutions where they are often abused, denied food and water, sexually assaulted, and sometimes sent away simply for being LGBT,” said the Center’s Director of Policy & Community Building Dave Garcia. “This legislation will protect these young people just as they would in any group home throughout the state of California. No child should be abused at the hands of adults, and no religion should be used as an excuse to abuse a young person.”

in NEWS
Related Posts

Pentagon Orders Troop Drawdown in LA: 150 National Guard Members Reassigned to Wildfire Duty

July 2, 2025

July 2, 2025

Federal Forces Begin Partial Withdrawal From Protest Response as California Leaders Push Back U.S. Northern Command announced Tuesday that 150 National Guard...

UPenn Bans Trans Women From Women’s Sports in Controversial Title IX Deal

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

Trump Administration Forces University to Reinstate Records, Issue Apologies The University of Pennsylvania has reached a resolution with the U.S....

California Highway Patrol Deploys for Independence Day Enforcement Surge

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

All Available Officers to Hit California Highways for Holiday Weekend As Californians gear up for Fourth of July festivities, the...

Court Postpones Arraignment for Driver in Malibu Crash That Killed Four Students

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

Fraser Michael Bohm Faces Murder Charges in Fatal PCH Wreck  The arraignment for Fraser Michael Bohm, the 23-year-old man accused...

Top Military Commander Urges Return of Troops Deployed to ICE Protest Response

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

General Requests 200 National Guard Soldiers Be Returned to California Wildfire Unit The senior U.S. military officer overseeing federal forces...

(Video) Los Angeles County Supervisor from the 2nd district, Holly J. Mitchel, Gives a Powerful Speech

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

Supervisor Mitchell Called on Residents to take action at the rally for Ambrocio “Enrique” Lozano in Culver City.

Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Parents Opposed to LGBTQ Books in Schools

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

Decision Could Pave Way for More Opt-Out Challenges Across the Country The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Friday that a Maryland...

The Westside Lights Up for July 4: Fireworks, Drone Shows, and Parades Return Across West Los Angeles

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

From Marina Del Rey’s Fireworks to Culver City’s 1980s-Themed Drone Show, Get Ready to Celebrate From fireworks over Marina del...

Tens of Thousands Defy Ban at Budapest Pride as Hungary Cracks Down on LGBTQ+ Rights

June 29, 2025

June 29, 2025

Marchers Risk Fines and Jail Under New Law Targeting LGBTQ+ Gatherings Tens of thousands marched through the streets of Budapest...

California Judge Rules FAIR Plan’s Smoke Damage Policy Unlawful

June 29, 2025

June 29, 2025

Court Says Wildfire Insurance Program Illegally Denied Claims Legal protections for California homeowners took a step forward this week after...

(Video) Culver City Residents and City and County Leaders Rally for Disappeared Ice Cream Man Ambrocio “Enrique” Lozano

June 29, 2025

June 29, 2025

US Representative for California’s 37th Congressional District, Sydney Kamlager-Dove Speaks About What is happening to the disappeared.

Drake Slashes Price on Beverly Hills Estate to $79 Million Amid Market Slowdown

June 29, 2025

June 29, 2025

Price Cut Adds to a Broader Retreat From His Los Angeles Real Estate Holdings. Musician Drake has reduced the price...

Iranian Pastor in West L.A. Speaks as Church Rocked by Immigration Raids 

June 28, 2025

June 28, 2025

Five Detained as Fear Spreads Through Persian Christian Faith Community  Fear has spread through a West Los Angeles congregation after...

Cinespia Brings Fireworks and Fan Favorites to Hollywood Forever This July

June 27, 2025

June 27, 2025

Watch Top Gun, La La Land, and More Under the Stars at Hollywood Forever Cinespia, Los Angeles’ iconic outdoor movie...

LGBTQ State Senator Scott Wiener Signals Bid to Succeed Pelosi in Congress

June 27, 2025

June 27, 2025

Wiener Files Paperwork to Run for California’s 11th District in 2028 State Sen. Scott Wiener, a prominent Democrat representing San...