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Bill to ban conversion therapy in New Zealand passes second reading

Still not a law, but a step closer to becoming one, the bill will make it illegal to try to change someone’s sexuality or gender identity.

Photo by Thomas Schweighofer from Unsplash.com

The parliament in New Zealand passed a bill banning the so-called “conversion therapy” at its second reading, with 26 MPs voting for the bill and seven MPs (all from the National Party) opposing. Still not a law, but a step closer to becoming one, the bill will make it illegal to try to change someone’s sexuality or gender identity.

This bill, in particular, defines “conversion therapy” as any “practice, sustained effort, or treatment”.

The bill creates:

  • two new criminal offenses for the most serious cases of harm or where there is heightened risk of harm; and
  • a pathway for civil redress.

Under the bill, it will be an offense to perform conversion practices on a child or young person aged under 18, or on someone with impaired decision-making capacity. If proven that this was committed, the violator/s would be subject to up to three years’ imprisonment. However, the bill puts a check on the prosecutions of parents; instead, any decision to prosecute someone for trying to “convert” a minor needs to go through the Attorney-General first.

The bill similarly excludes “assisting an individual who is undergoing, or considering undergoing… gender transition” and “providing acceptance, support, or understanding of an individual”, or “facilitating an individual’s coping skills”.

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