Jury Finds Promise of "Gay Conversion" Therapy Was a Fraud

A nonprofit organization that claimed it could turn gay men straight violated the state's Consumer Fraud Act, a jury found Thursday in a civil trial that an attorney for the plaintiffs called "a momentous event" for LGBT rights.

The seven-member jury found that Jews Offering New Alternatives for Healing, its co-founder, Arthur Goldberg, and counselor Alan Downing made misrepresentations and engaged in unconscionable business practices.

Three men and two parents were awarded about $72,000 in damages. The judge will rule later on their request to revoke the company's license, plaintiffs' attorneys said.

"This is a momentous event in the history of LGBT rights," attorney David Dinielli said. "The same lies that motivate gay conversion therapy motivate homophobia — that gay people are broken and need to be fixed. The strength of our plaintiffs brought that to light."

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Jury-Deliberating-in-New-Jersey-Gay-Conversion-Lawsuit-309865061.html?partner=nbcnews