Seven years ago, a bold movement emerged at the California State Capitol. Over 350 citizens, including more than 20 individuals who had left LGBTQ identities and behaviors, testified against AB 2943, a bill that sought to ban counseling and resources aimed at helping people pursue freedom from same-sex attraction and gender confusion. With support from California Family Council and ministries like Equipped to Love, these brave men and women stood before legislators, pastors, and the public to declare one powerful truth: “Change is possible.”
Now, in 2025, on the seventh anniversary of that historic rally, California Family Council is once again partnering with CHANGED Movement to host “SPEAK OUT,” a two-day event on June 11-12 to reignite that same message—freedom to follow Jesus includes freedom to leave LGBTQ identities behind.
”We come today to make an appeal to the world and to lawmakers. Let us decide our sexual identity. … I should decide who I’m going to be,” said Ken Williams at the original rally in 2018. Now, seven years later, Williams and many others continue to fight for that right.
Standing on the Legacy of AB 2943 Opposition
In 2018, the LGBTQ legislative caucus sponsored AB 2943, a bill so sweeping it threatened churches, counselors, authors, and even bookstores with legal action for offering any service, product, or program that supported helping someone wanting help to change their unwanted same-sex attraction or gender dysphoria, including help to change associated behaviors. It was a direct assault on freedom of speech and religion, including the preaching of the gospel of salvation through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.
During that first “Day of Action” on June 12, 2018, men and women who had experienced transformation through their Christian faith testified publicly on the Capitol steps. They had spent the prior day visiting every legislator’s office and distributing their testimony book titled “CHANGED.”
Calvary Chapel Chino Hills Pastor Jack Hibbs declared to the crowd, “The entire gospel is about change. It is about hope. … The very gospel message is that Jesus Christ changes lives. This house [state capitol] stands for, they say, choice. And we are just simply asking that people be left alone and let them make their choice. If they want to receive our input from God’s word or not. It’s a free country. Let’s keep it free. And let’s keep our pulpits free with hope.”
That rally catalyzed a national conversation. Although AB 2943 ultimately passed the Judiciary Committee that day, public outcry and grassroots pressure led to the bill being withdrawn before becoming law. The battle wasn’t won in legislation alone—it was won in testimony.
A New Chapter in the Fight for Conscience and Freedom
This year’s SPEAK OUT event builds on that courageous stand. The goal remains the same: protect freedom of conscience for those seeking to live biblically—especially those leaving LGBTQ identities behind.
Register for the Speak Out Conference here:
Day 1 – June 11
Capitol Symposium hosted by CHANGED and CFC:
- Gender Ideology’s Cultural Impact
- Bias in Scientific Research on Gender
- The Role of Trauma in Gender Confusion
Day 2 – June 12
Morning Rally at the Capitol Steps
- Featuring powerful testimonies from CHANGED members, pastors, and national leaders.
Why It Still Matters
Just like AB 2943, today’s laws and policies continue to silence those who’ve walked away from LGBTQ identities. State-sanctioned counseling bans, biased suicide prevention programs like those promoted by the Trevor Project, and increasing pressure to affirm a single sexual narrative all contribute to a cultural climate where only one “way out” is allowed—and it’s not Jesus.
Now, a critical free speech and religious liberty case has reached the U.S. Supreme Court. In Chiles v. Salazar, the Court will consider whether Colorado can legally ban counseling conversations that help minors reduce or resist unwanted same-sex attraction or gender confusion. Kaley Chiles, a licensed professional counselor represented by Alliance Defending Freedom, is challenging a law that forbids her from having honest conversations with clients who seek to align their lives with their Christian faith. The law allows guidance toward gender transition but censors speech away from it—a blatant case of government-imposed ideology in private therapy rooms.
As ADF’s Kristen Waggoner stated, “The government has no business censoring private conversations between clients and counselors, nor should a counselor be used as a tool to impose the government’s biased views on her clients.” The outcome of this case could profoundly impact efforts across the country—including in California—to defend freedom of conscience, religious liberty, and the right to pursue change.
Although AB 2943 was never signed into law, California does ban licensed counselors from helping minors change their unwanted same-sex attraction and associated sexual behaviors, nor will it allow counselors to help minors with gender dysphoria accept and feel comfortable with their God-given sex. Only affirmation counseling is allowed.
