An appeal court has sided with California and upheld the first law in America banning psychological treatment that seeks to turn gay youths straight, Belfast Telegraph said.

In a resounding, unanimous opinion, a three-judge panel of the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals found the state law barring the so-called gay aversion therapy legal in every respect.

The judges said trying to change a minor's sexual orientation through intense therapy appeared dangerous, and that California politicians properly showed that the sexual orientation change efforts were outside the scientific mainstream and have been rejected for good reason.

The activities of pastors and lay counsellors who are unlicensed but provide such therapy through church programmes are not covered by the law.

Liberty Counsel, a Christian legal aid group that represents supporters of the practice, said it would either ask a larger panel of the court to reconsider the decision or petition the US Supreme Court to take up the case. The group is also fighting the New Jersey law.

Liberty and other backers of the therapy argue that politicians have no conclusive, scientific proof that the therapy does harm.