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<p class="p2"><span style="font-size: x-large;">NEW POLL OVERVIEW:<br />
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State Representative Adam Zemke, D-Ann Arbor has introduced House Bill 5703 in the Michigan House that would ban gay conversion therapy for minors in Michigan. It would amend Michigan's mental health code to prohibit health professionals from attempting to change the sexual orientation of anyone under 18 years old.<br />
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<p class="p2"><span style="font-size: x-large;">New Jersey Republican Gov. Chris Christie signed similar legislation into law last year. California and New York have similar statewide youth bans, which have survived various legal challenges.</span></p>
<p class="p3"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Zemke said he has had positive conversations with some Republican lawmakers in Lansing and expects to win some bipartisan support for his legislation. But his bill faces a hurdle in the House Health Policy Committee chaired by Rep. Gail Haines, R-Waterford.<br />
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<p class="p2"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Christie, in signing the New Jersey law, shared similar concerns, noting that &quot;government should tread lightly into this area.&quot; But he ultimately concluded it was inappropriate to expose children to a therapy without clear evidence of benefits that outweigh harm.<br />
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<p class="p2"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality, the American Association of Christian Counselors and two individual therapists sued New Jersey days after Christie signed the law, arguing that it would prohibit licensed counselors from &quot;respecting the rights of clients&quot; interested in conversion therapy.<br />
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<p class="p2"><span style="font-size: x-large;">A federal judge dismissed the suit, ruling that the law regulated conduct but did not violate anyone's freedom of speech or religion. The U.S. Supreme Court recently paved the way for California to begin enforcing its ban on conversion therapy for minors.<br />
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<p class="p2"><span style="font-size: x-large;">NEW POLL QUESTION:<br />
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<p class="p2"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Should the MI legislature pass legislation to ban&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: x-large; font-style: normal; line-height: 36px;">'</span><span style="font-size: 24px; line-height: 36px;">'</span><span style="font-size: 24px; line-height: 1.5;">Gay Conversion</span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: x-large; font-style: normal; line-height: 36px;">'</span><span style="font-size: 24px; line-height: 36px;">'</span><span style="font-size: 24px; line-height: 1.5;">&nbsp;therapy in Michigan?</span></p>
<p class="p2"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Yes</span></p>
<p class="p2"><span style="font-size: x-large;">No</span></p>
<p class="p2"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Undecided<br />
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<p class="p2"><span style="font-size: x-large;">TO VOTE IN THIS POLL CLICK ON THIS LINK</span></p>
<p class="p2"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.clinton-countygop.org/content/should-mi-legislature-pass-legislation-ban-%E2%80%9Cgay-conversion%E2%80%9D-therapy-michigan">http://www.clinton-countygop.org/content/should-mi-legislature-pass-legislation-ban-%E2%80%9Cgay-conversion%E2%80%9D-therapy-michigan</a><br />
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<p class="p2"><span style="font-size: x-large;">(To enter your comments click on&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: x-large; font-style: normal; line-height: 36px;">'</span><span style="font-size: 24px; line-height: 36px;">'</span><span style="font-size: 24px; line-height: 1.5;">Add new comment</span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: x-large; font-style: normal; line-height: 36px;">'</span><span style="font-size: 24px; line-height: 36px;">'</span><span style="font-size: 24px; line-height: 1.5;">&nbsp;after you vote.)</span></p>
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<p class="p2"><span style="font-size: x-large;">PREVIOUS POLL QUESTION:</span></p>
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<p class="p2"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Should the MI legislature restore the ban on the purchase of high explosive fireworks in Michigan?</span></p>
<p class="p3"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Yes - 40%</span></p>
<p class="p2"><span style="font-size: x-large;">No - 51%</span></p>
<p class="p2"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Undecided - 9%<br />
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<p class="p2"><span style="font-size: x-large;">NO COMMENTS WERE MADE ON THIS POLL:</span></p>
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