Fridae

California will be the first state in the US to ban "reparative therapy" or "conversion therapy" – a practice that was been roundly discredited by mainstream mental health organisations – for gay teens.

In a move that serves as a significant blow to "ex-gay" programs and anti-gay organizations, Dr. Robert Spitzer repudiated his much-criticized 2001 study that claimed some "highly motivated" homosexuals could go from gay to straight.

Margaret Court, regarded as the greatest female tennis player in Australia and now a Pentecostal minister, has caused a furore with recent comments that gay marriage would legalise abominable sexual practices and gay people could be cured of their orientation.

Rev. Steve Parelli and Jose Ortiz, a gay married couple, will be in Singapore on 14 August to share their personal journey of reconciling their Christian faith and sexual orientation, and discuss the false claims of the ex-gay movement.

Fridae's Hong Kong correspondent Nigel Collett examines the furore surrounding the Hong Kong Government's appointment of a reparative therapist advocate to train its social welfare staff.

The Exodus Ministries Trust Board is no longer eligible for tax-exempt status in New Zealand as the Charities Commission concluded last month that it is not certain if the group can be said to be providing a public benefit given that professional groups have discredited ex-gay or reparative therapy.

Fridae.com's Hong Kong correspondent, Nigel Collett, meets the Reverend Steve Parelli and his partner José Ortiz, of the US NGO Other Sheep, to find out.

Behind the scenes, George Rekers is a major anti-gay figure who has caused a great deal of harm by lobbying for anti-gay legislation in the US.

Uganda’s “Kill the gays” bill is said to be inspired by an American ex-gay activist and author of Coming Out Straight who claims he has helped thousands of gays “become” straight.

Avoid telling clients they can change their sexual orientation through therapy or other treatments, the world's largest association of psychologists tells mental health professionals.