LGBTIQ+ conversion practices will be outlawed in NSW after state parliament passed a bill banning them.
After an all-night session debating the legislation, which concluded just after 6.30am on Friday, the legislation passed 22 votes to 4.
“The sun rises today on a state that is safer for LGBTQ people,” said independent Sydney MP Alex Greenwich, who is gay.
Greenwich said the legislation sends a clear message to the community and showed the government had the backs of the LGBTI+ community.
“I’m grateful to the Minns Labor government for delivering a prohibition on LGBTQ conversion practices, and working with me and so many stakeholders to get the balance right on this historic legislation.
“LGBTQ people are loved and beautiful, and futile attempts to change or suppress who we are will now be illegal in NSW,” he said.
The new law criminalises conversion practices that seek to change or suppress a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity and cause serious mental or physical harm.
It also provides redress to survivors through a civil pathway and makes it illegal to take someone out of NSW to undergo a conversion practice.
“Importantly, it [the bill] says to the LGBTIQ community, you are fine just the way you are, we believe you should be celebrated for who you are and that we will make sure that harmful practices that tell you there is something wrong with you no longer have a place in NSW,” said Labor MP Penny Sharpe.
However, the bill does allow for religious leaders to give sermons about homosexuality being a sin.
The government said it included this provision because it did not want to infringe on the expression of religious belief.
“It contains important exclusions that make it clear that general conversations around religious beliefs, or how religious beliefs might be reflected in a person’s life, are not conversion practices,” said Attorney-General Michael Daley.
“This includes personal prayer or seeking spiritual guidance, the teachings of a religious leader or expression of a religious belief through sermon
“Similarly, conversations between parents and children, with siblings and the wider family and even friends, are not covered by this new law.
Despite this, the bill has been welcomed by Equality Australia, whose chief executive Anna Brown said it will save countless lives.
“It sends a powerful message that we are whole and valid, just as we are,” said Brown.
Brown said the legislation was a landmark moment for the state, and thanked the many brave survivors who worked tirelessly to make this law a reality.
“They have shown courage, fortitude and incredible bravery in putting an end to these practices that deny the humanity of LGBTQA+ people,” she said.
Chris Csabs, a conversion practice survivor and co-founder of Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity Change Efforts Survivors, said he was overwhelmed by the bills passing.
“I am thrilled that my home state has finally drawn a line in the sand to say that LGBTQ+ people deserve to live in a state that is free from this kind of discriminatory and deeply harmful practice,” he said.
Similar legislation has already passed in Victoria, the ACT and New Zealand, while Queensland has banned conversion practices in health settings.
This article was written by Eliot Hastie (@eliothastie)
Eliot Hastie is a senior news producer at Channel Ten, reporting on a range of general stories, specialising in foreign affairs and LGBTQ+ stories. He’s also a reporter for Gay Sydney News, where he covers LGBTQIA+ culture, politics and nightlife. He previously helped to build and launch ausbiz, Australia's only live streaming finance news channel, where he was also an executive producer and host. He has previously worked as a finance and business journalist for publications including Fintech Business, Real Estate Business and other Momentum Media titles. Eliot holds a journalism degree from the University of Westminster and brings experience in both broadcast and digital reporting. Contact Eliot: [email protected]
