Chinese man sues clinic for gay conversion therapy, web giant Baidu for advertising it

BEIJING – A gay rights group says a Chinese man is suing a psychological clinic for carrying out electric shocks intended to turn him straight, as well as the search engine giant Baidu for advertising the center.

The Beijing LGBT Center says Thursday's hearing is the first court case involving so-called conversion therapy in China.

Executive director Xin Ying says the group hopes the case at a Beijing court would lead to a ban on the therapy.

Yang Teng tells The Associated Press that the therapy given to him included hypnosis and electric shock.

His lawyer Li Duilong says they are suing the clinic because it told Yang electric shock treatment was not dangerous, but they harmed his health.

He also says Baidu bore joint liability because it carried its advertisement.