Social conservatives have criticized New Jersey Governor Chris Christie's decision to sign legislation that bans therapies aimed at turning gay teens straight.

With Christie's signature, New Jersey became the second state after California to approve such a ban.

(Related: Chris Christie signs bill banning “ex-gay” therapy to minors.)

Maggie Gallagher, a co-founder of the National Organization for Marriage (NOM), the nation's most vociferous opponent of gay marriage, was among those taking aim at Christie.

“The new law communicates to gays and lesbians seeking to conform their lives to their values that they are second-class citizens, without the same rights to seek help that other people enjoy. It is a right to self-determination that Gov. Christie has shut down,” Gallagher said in a statement.

“Governor Christie's decision today violates the individual drive of men and women who no longer want to be tormented by unwanted homosexual desires. They are adults and should be free to seek out help for themselves without government interference,” she incorrectly added. (The law only applies to minors under 18.)

Troy Stevenson, executive director of Garden State Equality, responded that Gallagher was “advocating for … taking away self-determination from the youth of New Jersey.”

Gallagher recently denied backing “ex-gay” therapy. After praising lawyer Chuck Limandri as “brave” for defending JONAH, a New Jersey-based “ex-gay” group, in a lawsuit file by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), Gallagher claimed that “I'm not qualified to express an opinion on a particular kind of therapy.”

(Related: After backing “ex-gay” group, Maggie Gallagher feigns innocence.)

Mat Staver, chairman of the Christian conservative Liberty Counsel, promised to block the law's start in the same way the group has in California.

“The New Jersey governor is putting himself in every counseling room, dictating what kind of counseling clients can receive. This bill provides a slippery slope of government infringing upon the First Amendment rights of counselors to provide, and patients to receive, counseling consistent with their religious beliefs,” Staver said in a written statement.

“This bill is so broad that parents would be prohibited from seeking help for their son who developed unwanted same-sex attractions after being molested by the likes of Jerry Sandusky,” he added.