'Cruel and bigoted' gay conversion therapy to be BANNED in one state with $10,000 penalties or ten years in jail for giving the 'dangerous' practice
Therapy that attempts to change or suppress a person's sexual orientation or gender identity is set to become illegal in Victoria.
Proposed legislation outlawing gay conversion therapy was introduced for the first time in state parliament on Wednesday.
The Change or Suppression Practices Prohibition Bill denounces the practice as deceptive and harmful.
If the new legislation is passed, anyone who gives out sexuality suppression therapy will face up to ten years in jail if it is deemed to cause injury to the participant.
Anyone caught advertising the practices would also face criminal sanctions and fines of up to $10,000.
Gay conversion therapy is set to become illegal in Victoria after proposed legislation was introduced in parliament (pictured, rainbow flag-bearing participants at the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras in February)
Victorian Attorney-General Jill Hennessy says some of the horror stories she's heard about the practice are forms of criminal assault.
'Our government is very firmly of the view that gay, lesbian and trans people, they don't need to be fixed, they are perfect the way they are,' she told reporters.
'What we won't stand by is to have services, whether they're therapeutic health services or pretending to be, or religious techniques, imposing on people something I think is the height of cruelty.'
Premier Victorian Daniel Andrews described the controversial practice as 'bigoted quackery' in a powerful statement.
Victorian commissioner for LGBTIQ+ communities Ro Allen says the proposed legislation will save lives
'Let’s be clear: there is absolutely nothing wrong with being who you are,' Mr Andrews wrote.
'And there’s everything wrong with dangerous conversion practices that tell gay, bi and trans people they need to be "cured".
'This bigoted quackery destroys lives and perpetuates shame and stigma.'
Victorian commissioner for LGBTIQ+ communities Ro Allen says the legislation will save lives.
'LGBTIQ+ Victorians are to be celebrated and valued – just as we are. We’re not broken and we don’t need fixing,' she said.
Victoria is set to become the third state or territory to outlaw therapy that attempts to change or suppress a person's sexual orientation or gender identity (pictured, parade participants at the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras)
The bill will also empower the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission to investigate reports of conversion practices.
A civil response scheme will also be established within VEOHRC to support survivors and address the harm they have endured.
Queensland became the first state to criminalise gay conversion therapy in August, followed by ACT.
It's unlikely the legislation in Victoria will pass until 2021 due to the limited sitting days left this year.
Israel took a step toward implementing an outright ban earlier this year while Malta, Brazil and Germany have partially or fully outlawed gay conversion therapy.