Delay over conversion ban
The Government has been advised to delay a decision on outlawing gay and trans ‘‘conversion therapy’’ due to concerns about freedom of expression.
Conversion therapy is where people try to change lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) people’s sexuality or gender identity using therapy, drugs or other means.
The controversial practice has been banned in the Australian state of Victoria, several countries in South America and parts of the United States. About 20,000 people have signed petitions calling for the practice to be outlawed in New Zealand.
But while the justice select committee acknowledged conversion therapy could be harmful to rainbow communities, it did not recommend an immediate ban. ‘‘More work needs to be done before any decision is taken,’’ its report said.
‘‘Thought must be given to how to define conversion therapy, who the ban would apply to, and how to ensure that rights relating to freedom of expression and religion were maintained.’’
The committee said it was important people with questions about their sexuality or gender identity could seek advice from people such as a professional counsellor, family and friends, or members of their religious community. The response has been labelled as a ‘‘cop-out’’ by the Conversion Therapy Action Group.
Max Tweedie, a member of the group and organiser of one of the petitions, said religious freedom should protect people of faith from persecution but should not allow them to discriminate against other groups. ‘‘We do not permit someone’s religious freedom to extend to stoning homosexuals to death. We cannot allow archaic religious practices to be prioritised over the rights and general wellbeing of our rainbow community,’’ he said.