Young Man Testifies Against California Bill on Conversion Therapy

A young man recently confronted a California lawmaker regarding the difficulties he encountered during childhood medical transitions. He argued that a proposed bill could hinder vulnerable minors from receiving adequate counseling.

Johnny Skinner, who identifies as a detransitioner and serves as an ambassador for GenSpect, gave testimony at a California Senate Judiciary Committee hearing against SB 934. This bill, introduced by Democratic Sen. Scott Wiener, aims to permit victims of “conversion therapy” to seek compensation through medical malpractice lawsuits, potentially years after the therapy occurred. According to Wiener’s office, conversion therapy involves attempts to alter sexual orientation or gender identity.

Critics, like the California Family Council, claim that the bill is so broadly defined that it could leave therapists open to lawsuits regarding any talk therapy surrounding sexuality and gender identity.

Skinner shared his experience growing up in a small town in Michigan within a religious family and receiving a diagnosis of high-functioning autism during his early years. He described feeling different from other boys and being bullied for his traditionally feminine interests. As he neared adolescence, he became increasingly unhappy with his body and felt ashamed at the prospect of being viewed as homosexual or effeminate. After encountering influencers online who had transitioned, he found the idea appealing.

Skinner explained in an interview that he was introduced to a gender therapist and an endocrinologist who affirmed his feelings, suggesting that transitioning could help him feel more “normal.”

“None of my medical or mental health providers asked me why I felt this way,” Skinner stated during the hearing. “They administered blockers and hormones to halt my puberty and inhibit my development. This led to me becoming a 23-year-old gay man who has never experienced orgasm. That’s the reality.”

Although Skinner’s mother opposed the idea of making irreversible changes to his body, medical professionals told her that his gender dysphoria stemmed from a hormonal imbalance in the womb and insisted that he had “a girl’s brain in a boy’s body.” He was led to believe that transitioning through hormone therapy was the only answer to his issues.

However, the medications caused various side effects, including fainting, painful muscle spasms, and urinary complications.

In 2023, a different endocrinologist suggested he discontinue the medication to see if the issues would resolve. Around that time, after reviewing a leaked report from the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, he began to question the medical advice he had received over the years. He described this experience as a “research rabbit hole.”

“The evidence supporting the treatments I received was of poor quality or nonexistent,” he asserted.

Skinner eventually ceased the treatment but continues to deal with urinary problems and sexual dysfunction, which he attributes to the medications. He feels this ongoing suffering drives him to speak out today.

He expressed concern that California’s proposed bill targeting so-called “conversion therapy” could negatively impact gay individuals, stating, “For me, it was like a form of chemical conversion therapy.” Skinner emphasized the need for therapists to explore the underlying causes of minors’ distress rather than jumping straight to gender identity solutions.

“If someone had talked to me about my pain rather than just affirming my desire for medical interventions, I might have avoided much of what I’m experiencing now,” he stated. “SB 934 threatens to criminalize therapists who challenge these notions.” He explained that the bill would prevent professionals from questioning a patient’s gender identity or probing deeper into what may be causing their distress.

Skinner believes lawmakers are failing to sufficiently address the long-lasting effects of such treatments on minors. “They act out of compassion, thinking they’re doing good, but they aren’t considering what’s happening in these kids’ bodies that could be causing their anguish,” he commented.

In a response to Skinner’s remarks, Sen. Wiener’s office defended the bill, stating, “Conversion therapy is a harmful practice that only inflicts pain on vulnerable young people. SB 934 aims to curtail that while ensuring therapists who genuinely explore gender identity or sexuality with their patients won’t be punished. Those who intentionally try to convert a patient’s gender or sexual orientation will be held accountable.”

The bill is currently awaiting further deliberation in the California Senate after proceeding through one committee, with another hearing scheduled for April 20th.

This legislation follows the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Chile v. Salazar, which found that a Colorado law banning conversion therapy violated the First Amendment by discriminating against specific viewpoints.