Towleroad Guide to the Tube #1370

GET LUCKY: Dancing to a Daft Punk cover.

ALLEN ROSENTHAL: A survivor of the 'ex-gay' group NARTH speaks out.

OWL: Loves being petted.

BELGIUM: Liberal humanists celebrate 10 years of marriage equality.

For recent Guides to the Tube, click HERE.

Pat Robertson: Gays Can Change Just Like Murderers, Rapists and Thieves — VIDEO

Commenting on a case in Ecuador in which a lawmaker was found guilty of discrimination over his anti-gay remarks, Pat Robertson expressed anger that speaking out against gays can be considered a hate crime.

Said Robertson:

"It is a hate crime to say somebody can change their sexual preference? ... Anybody who has ministered to thousands of people...know very well that the power of God can change people's orientation. A murderer can change. A rapist can change. A thief can change. That's what the Gospel is about. It's not a hate crime."

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

Legislation to Ban Gay Conversion Therapy to Be Introduced Today in New York

New York state senators Mcihael Gianaris and Deborah Glick are planning to introduce legislation to ban gay conversion therapy, the HuffPost reports:

New York's legislation, which will be introduced on Friday, is modeled after a new California law that bans licensed therapists from using the practice, sometimes called conversion therapy or sexual orientation change efforts, on minors. California's bill, the first of its kind, was signed into law last fall and is currently on hold while a federal appeals court considers two lawsuits alleging an unconstitutional violation of free speech and parental rights.

'Ex-Gay' Poster Boy John Paulk Apologizes for the Pain and Harm He Caused at Focus on the Family

John Paulk, the longtime leader of Focus on the Family's 'Love Won Out' 'ex-gay' ministry and former Exodus International chair has apologized for the pain and harm he caused. Paulk recently said he no longer supports the "ex-gay" movement but this is his first real apology.

Says Paulk in a post on Skipping to the Piccolo, in part:

Please allow me to be clear: I do not believe that reparative therapy changes sexual orientation; in fact, it does great harm to many people.

I know that countless people were harmed by things I said and did in the past,

Parents, families, and their loved ones were negatively impacted by the notion of reparative therapy and the message of change. I am truly, truly sorry for the pain I have caused.

From the bottom of my heart I wish I could take back my words and actions that caused anger, depression, guilt and hopelessness. In their place I want to extend love, hope, tenderness, joy and the truth that gay people are loved by God.

Today, I see LGBT people for who they are–beloved, cherished children of God. I offer my most sincere and heartfelt apology to men, women, and especially children and teens who felt unlovable, unworthy, shamed or thrown away by God or the church.

I want to offer my sincere thanks to everyone who encouraged me to take this initial step of transparency. Even while promoting “ex-gay” programs, there were those who called me on my own words and actions. I’m sure I didn’t appreciate it at the time, but they have helped me to realize this truth about who I am.

Federal Appeals Court to Hear Challenge to California Ban on 'Gay Conversion Therapy'

A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is set to hear a challenge today to California's ban on gay conversion therapy for minors, the AP reports:

The cases before the appeals court — brought by professionals who practice sexual orientation change therapy, two families who say their teenage sons benefited from it and a national association of Christian mental health counselors — argue that the ban infringes on their free speech, freedom of association and religious rights, and in the case of the counselors, jeopardizes their livelihoods.

"The state has determined that the only permissible message (is that) same-sex attractions, behavior or identity are to be accepted, supported and understood, thus suppressing all other viewpoints to the detriment of licensed professionals and their vulnerable minor clients," lawyers for the families, several practitioners and the professional group said.

"The viewpoint of counselors who in their professional judgment determine that same-sex attractions conflict with the religious and moral beliefs of clients and are not desired, is silenced by SB 1172. This raises a serious constitutional question."

Chief Judge Alex Kozinski (pictured), who was appointed by Ronald Reagan in 1985, Judge Susan Graber, a 1998 appointee of Bill Clinton's, and Judge Morgan Christen, a 2012 appointee of President Barack Obama, are set to hear the case.

U.S. District Court Judge William Shubb blocked the law banning the harmful therapy in December. It was scheduled to go into effect January 1 but was put on hold by the 9th Circuit.

Said NCLR Legal Director Shannon Minter regarding Shubb's ruling:

“We are disappointed by the ruling but very pleased that the temporary delay in implementing this important law applies only to the three plaintiffs who brought this lawsuit. The judge stressed that he was willing to issue the ruling in part because it is temporary and applies only to three individuals. We are confident that as the case progresses, it will be clear to the court that this law is fundamentally no different than many other laws that regulate health care professionals to protect patients. That is especially important in this case because the harms to minors are so serious, including suicide and severe depression. Every leading medical and mental health organization in the country has rejected these practices and warned that they are not only completely ineffective, but dangerous. California did the right thing by enacting this law, and we are confident the courts will find that it is not only constitutional, but vitally necessary. It is heartbreaking to think of the terrible damage that has been done to so many LGBT youth and their families, and of the lives that have been lost or destroyed because of these discredited practices.

We applaud Senator Ted Liu, the bill’s author, lead sponsor Equality California, the California Legislature, and Governor Brown for protecting these young people and their families. Governor Brown’s statement when he signed this bill is right on target: ‘This bill bans non-scientific 'therapies' that have driven young people to depression and suicide. These practices have no basis in science or medicine and they will now be relegated to the dustbin of quackery.’”

Thomas Roberts Follows Up with Richard Socarides' Revelations About His Father and Gay Conversion Therapy: VIDEO

Activist and writer Richard Socarides sat down today with MSNBC's Thomas Roberts to follow up on the the video we posted yesterday in which Socarides talked about coming out to his father, who was a pioneer of so-called "gay conversion therapy."

Roberts asks Socarides about the interview and the recent father-gay son pairings that have been in the news lately — Congressman Matt Salmon and his son, and Senator Rob Portman and his son.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...