N.J. judge orders 'gay conversion' outfit to close

NEWARK, N.J. - A New Jersey nonprofit found to have violated consumer fraud laws for offering therapy it said would turn gays to heterosexuals must shut down, a judge ordered Friday.

The granting of a permanent injunction against Jews Offering New Alternatives for Healing (JONAH) was an outgrowth of a lawsuit filed against the group in 2012 by several men, and two of their mothers, claiming it engaged in fraud and made claims it couldn't back up.

In June, a Hudson County jury awarded the plaintiffs about $72,000 in damages.

The ruling signed Friday by Superior Court Judge Peter Bariso ordered Jersey City-based JONAH to cease all operations within 30 days, and barred it from "engaging, whether directly or through referrals, in any therapy, counseling, treatment or activity that has the goal of changing, affecting or influencing sexual orientation, 'same sex attraction,' or 'gender wholeness.' "

Bariso's order also awarded attorneys' fees and expenses to the plaintiffs' lawyers.

David Dinielli, an attorney for the men, said the decision sends a message to providers of so-called gay conversion therapy that the practice is fraudulent.

"The practice of conversion therapy, at base, constitutes fraud," he said. "It is premised on the lie that homosexuality is a disease or disorder. This case proved it to be a lie."

An attorney who represented JONAH at the trial did not immediately return a message seeking comment. The group had claimed that it did not make guarantees to clients and that it should be allowed to offer help to people struggling with their sexual orientation.

The four original plaintiffs in the lawsuit who underwent the therapy - one ultimately dropped out of the suit - alleged that the nonprofit exploited them with false promises as they struggled with their same-sex attractions in strict religious environments where they were expected to marry women and have children.

One testified that his therapy included hitting a pillow, meant to represent his mother, with a tennis racket. He said he was told his mother was the cause of his homosexuality, prompting him to temporarily cut off all communication with her.

Gov. Christie signed a law in 2013 banning licensed therapists from practicing conversion therapy in New Jersey.

Two court challenges to the ban, one by a couple and their son and one by a group that included two licensed therapists, were dismissed by a federal judge. Those decisions were later affirmed by a federal appeals court.

New Jersey's ban was not raised during the trial because JONAH employees were not licensed therapists.