New Zealand has banned conversion therapy, the practice of trying to ‘cure’ people of their sexuality, gender expression or LGBTQ+ identity, after all but eight National party members voted in favour of the law.
The legislation now makes it an offence – with a sentence up to three years’ imprisonment – to perform conversion practices on those aged under 18, or with impaired decision-making capacity. It also makes it an offence – with a sentence of up to five years’ imprisonment – to perform conversion practices that cause ‘serious harm’, irrespective of age.
Grant Robertson, deputy prime minister, said: “I grew up in a religious churchgoing household in the era of homosexual law reform. When I finally gathered the courage to come out to my parents, I was met with love … but not everyone is or was so lucky.
“To all those who have been affected by conversion practices or attempts at them, we want to say, this legislation is for you. We cannot bring you back, we cannot undo all of the hurt, but we can make sure that for the generations to come, we provide the support and love you did not get and protect you from the harm of those who seek to try to stop you from being who you are.”
The United Nations independent expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity found conversion practices caused “significant loss of self-esteem, anxiety, depressive syndrome, social isolation, intimacy difficulty, self-hatred, shame and guilt, sexual dysfunction, suicidal ideation and suicide attempts and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder”.
In October 2021, the UK government launched a consultation on banning conversion ‘therapy’ in England and Wales. Once the consultation has closed, the government will prepare and introduce legislation by spring 2022.
