New Zealand, Israel Take Steps Against Conversion Therapy
conversion therapy, the discredited and harmful practice aimed at turning LGBTQ+ people straight or cisgender.New Zealand’s Parliament gave final approval Tuesday to legislation banning the use of conversion therapy on minors and certain other populations.
The vote was 112-8, Newshub reports.The measure makes it illegal to perform the therapy on people under 18 or those of any age who have impaired decision-making capacity.
Violations could result in a prison sentence of up to three years. Also, if anyone of any age sustains serious harm because of conversion therapy, the practitioner could face up to five years in prison.Member of Parliament Kiri Allan tweeted about the harm she suffered from an attempt to “pray the gay away” when she was 16. “My ‘illness’ & ‘weakness’ to temptation was etched as sin into my skin,” she wrote. “It took a long time to shake that shame and trauma.
Tonight our Parliament will ensure this practice is banned in our country for good. For our next generation of babies, I am so incredibly relieved.
