New Zealand is the latest country to make moves banning conversion therapy. Proposed legislation has passed its first reading in parliament, with all parties saying they oppose such practices.
However, the National Party voted against the bill on the basis that it risks criminalising parents. Under the proposals, an individual who performs conversion therapy on someone, causing serious harm, will face a prison sentence of up to five years.
To amount to conversion therapy, the practice complained of must be ‘directed towards someone because of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, and performed with the intention of changing or suppressing their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression’.
Concerns have also been raised by right-wing party ACT, and churches, that the new law would unduly restrict religious people from expressing and engaging with their beliefs and limit parents’ freedom to counsel their own children.
Justice Minister Kris Faafoi said the legislation would not capture ‘general expressions of religious beliefs or principles about sexuality and gender’.
However, the government website states: ‘The definition clarifies that it does not capture the expression of a religious principle or belief that is not intended to change or suppress a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.’
The number of public submissions on the proposals has reportedly broken the country’s record for the numbers received on a proposed law.
The National Party’s Simon Bridges, who sits on the Justice Committee, said that because of the volume of submissions received, ‘it’s clear more time is needed’ to consider the bill.
Conversion therapy bill is 'badly drafted'
The Westminster Government first pledged to criminalise so-called "conversion therapy" in 2018 under Theresa May.It was a knee-jerk response …