This is being rushed. There is very little time. It is important that you make a submission.
Family First has provided guidelines for making a submission.
Research the issues by visiting this page and reading the fact sheet.
Read, or download, the bill itself.
Press release regarding the introduction of the Bill.
The Bill passed its first reading on 5 August 2021. See the related RNZ item.
Free To Live - Family First's website on gender issues and conversion therapy, including first-hand stories of gender change.
Read or download the legal opinion from Grant Illingworth QC
Read or download the submission of Patrick Parkinson A.M. on the New Zealand bill.
Victoria's New Gay Conversion Law Is Also A Violation Of Gay People's Freedom - Mark Maney
Gay Conversion Therapy: Some Serious implications For New Zealand - Stuart Lange
Some Problems With The Conversion Practices Prohibition Bill - Note, in particular the suggested additional clause.
The Bill itself defines conversion therapy as follows:
5 Meaning of conversion practice
(1) In this Act, conversion practice means any practice that—
(a) is directed towards an individual because of the individual’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression; and
(b) is performed with the intention of changing or suppressing the individual’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.
There are some exemptions. The one that applies to Christians says:
(f) the expression only of a religious principle or belief made to an individual that is not intended to change or suppress the individual’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.
In other words, it would seem that an expression of a Christian belief can be made only in a way not intended to influence the recipient. Why, then, would one express it at all? Wouldn't the intention be to say, "This is what Christians believe" so that someone can weigh up that option? Any attempt to persuade the recipient of that belief would seem to be illegal.
Family First have written...
The term ‘conversion therapy’ has been coined by activists but not clearly defined – so the rest of us are left trying to work out what it means.
If it means practices which are coercive, abusive or involuntary, or includes things like electric shock therapy or ‘anti-gay boot camps’, then we can all agree such things are inhumane and must be condemned. These types of ‘therapy’ should not be part of any community, let alone a faith-based one. Therapy or counselling should never be forced on anyone. Sadly, in the past, many state institutions sanctioned inhumane treatments such as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), being stripped naked and being locked in a small room, massive doses of medication, lobotomies and screaming patients chained to chairs. Fortunately, these are not part of current practice and certainly not part of any religious organisation.
However, banning ‘conversion therapy’ has expanded to mean stopping someone who experiences unwanted same-sex attraction or gender dysphoria from getting counselling or support of any sort that they may themselves desire.
This ‘ban’ could turn parents into criminals, religious leaders & counsellors into ‘human rights abusers’, and make it impossible for faith-based schools to teach that you are born male or female.
The government want to criminalise the discussion and practice of alternatives to hormones, surgery and confusion.
Presbyterian AFFIRM would absolutely agree that any practice that is coercive or abusive should be opposed. But the concern is that this legislation does not limit its application to those practices. It would criminalise any practice designed to help someone consider reasons for not changing their gender or expressing an LGBTI+ sexual orientation - even if that help is requested. It will criminalise Christians who express biblical views.
The danger is that this legislation would criminalise parents, Christians, counsellors etc. who:
have a conversation
pray
read the Bible (or other sacred text)
It potentially removes the right of parents to make decisions about medication or medical procedures given to their young children.
It is designed to suppress one half of the debate so that only one view can be heard. It overrides freedom of religion, freedom of opinion, freedom of speech and the rights of parents.
The often-repeated claim is that conversion therapy does not work and does harm. See the RNZ report on the first reading of the Bill. See also this RNZ report that states that changing a person's sexual orientation is not possible.
Again, it depends what is meant by "conversion therapy". No one is supporting coercive or abusive practices. Electric shock treatment is often cited but no one does that, or has for several decades (if at all). It is a figment of the imagination designed to horrify. But what about discussion or prayer?
Does it work? Not always. Some people troubled by their sexual attractions of with their gender dysphoria find no easy release. But sometimes it does. One example disproves the claim that it does not work. And there are many examples.
Listen to, or read, the stories on the Free To Live website.
Listen to testimonies of people who have left behind homosexual practices.
It is very clear that some "conversion therapy" is far from harmful. It is actually freeing and healing.
The Problem With The "Born Gay" Theory - Gavin Ashenden (Christianity Today)
Leah Gray
Listen to Kris Faafoi fail to answer the question of whether parents will be able to say that a 12-year old child cannot have hormone blockers, on NewsTalkZB.
Having had time to think about it, he was asked the same question at a media conference.
Can you figure out what the answer is?
See the related Family First article.
Listen to Auckland Pride Director, Max Tweedie, say that parents should be criminalised.