A petition supporting a ban on gay conversion therapy with over 150,000 signatures was handed to Parliament in February this year. Photo / Meriana Johnsen
A petition supporting a ban on gay conversion therapy with over 150,000 signatures was handed to Parliament in February this year. Photo / Meriana Johnsen
A man who was forced into conversion therapy as a teenager says the Government's ban of the practice will help prevent long-lasting suffering.
The Government yesterday introduced legislation that will make conversion therapy a criminal act.
The Conversion Practices Prohibition Legislation Bill will allow complaints forperforming conversion practices on another person to be made to the Human Rights Commission under the civil law.
Criminal penalties for more serious infractions would include up to five years in prison for causing serious harm to someone through use of the practice, or up to three years in prison for using it on vulnerable people including those under 18 or those unable to understand the nature of the practice or foresee its consequences.
Paul Stevens was forced into conversion therapy by the church when he was 15 after he told leaders he was gay.
"When you're a young person and you're developing your sense of identity if you have people who are telling you that you need to change something which is actually fundamental about who you are, it does do lasting damage."
The practice of trying to change a person's sexual orientation will be banned under the new law.