Conversion Practices
Proposal
We call for the removal of all references to “gender, gender identity and gender expression” from the Conversion Practices Prohibition Legislation Act 2022.
Rationale
We support the aim of the Conversion Practices legislation to protect lesbians, bisexuals and gay people from conversion practices and to promote open and respectful discussions about sexuality.
We do not support the inclusion of “gender, gender identity and gender expression” in this legislation because “gender” is not a clear or helpful concept to include in law, and because promoting “gender identity” to children risks causing them permanent harm.
The inclusion of “gender” in the legislation is likely to pressure therapists and medical professionals to practice “gender affirmative” treatment and to contribute to a culture of encouraging children to socially and medically transition.
Puberty blockers prevent children from experiencing puberty, which is the very thing that could resolve their identity issues. Medical transition can cause permanent harm and lifelong medical dependency. Social and medical gender transition, encouraged by this legislation, effectively promotes gay conversion therapy; because children who are likely to grow up to be lesbian, bisexual or gay are converted into appearing to be heterosexual members of the opposite sex.
The Cass Review recommends holistic psychological intervention to work with young people to explore their concerns and to alleviate their distress. Such an approach should not be equated with conversion therapy as it may prevent young people from getting the emotional support they deserve.
Furthermore, the current legislation protects the health professionals whose so-called “gender affirmative care” is doing this harm.
