We need to talk about Conversion Therapy
From the Homosexual Reform of 1986 to Marriage Equality in 2013, queer people have devoted decades of activism to queer liberation. Yet, there are still many obstacles in the New Zealand system blocking our human rights from becoming our human reality.
An outsider would easily describe New Zealand as one of the best countries in the world to be queer - from outside New Zealand looks like the queer utopia. We could be forgiven for thinking that three decades of relatively progressive and anti-discriminatory legislation means the queer community in New Zealand are well-protected. However, recent events have highlighted the severe and long-overlooked loopholes in New Zealand's justice system that have enabled the physical and psychological torture of many in the queer community; namely, Conversion therapy.
Conversion therapy, more formally, known as Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression Change Efforts, is known as an American phenomenon. No one would think it is a practice still alive and well in New Zealand, but the sad reality is that it is. Conversion 'therapy' is a group of deceptive and ineffective practices that aim to change an LGBTQIA+ orientation to cisgender or heterosexual. In the past, it has taken many forms, including electroconvulsive therapy, where people were shocked to have their sexuality or gender changed.
In New Zealand, we have turned to psychoanalysis and aversion therapy. The counting ourselves report found that 17% of approximately 1178 trans and non-binary people have experienced conversion therapy through a medical professional. That's 1 in 6 trans and non-binary people being stopped by a medical professional from either being trans or non-binary. Yet, the government has not banned the practice.
One of the most significant breeding grounds for conversion therapy is now religious groups. There are numerous stories of young people praying to god to "heal them or kill them," being told by their church to pray for forgiveness. A lot of people believe that it is their religious right to practise conversion therapy on people.
It isn't.
People won't come out and say I am homophobic, so they look for ridiculous answers like "in the same book that says snakes talk, it says homosexuality is a sin." Or "traditionally, marriage was between men and women," well traditionally, voting was between white men and the government, things have changed and so should we.
Freedom of religion is only invoked in the name of hatred. But Max Tweedie effortlessly puts things into perspective, "religious freedom exists so that people of faith aren't persecuted; it shouldn't guarantee the right for them to persecute others." Religious rights are not absolute, even in New Zealand law. The New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 protects freedom of religion; however, section 5 subjects it to justifiable limitations. Protecting the LGBTQIA+ community is a justifiable limitation."
The next popular question is, "shouldn't an adult be able to consent to it if they wanted to?" It is homophobia and transphobia hidden in the colonial notions of consent.
No, they cannot.
The conversation isn't about consent - the lines of consent have not only been blurred; they've been completely erased. No one wakes up on a random Sunday morning feeling ready to pray the gay away. It takes months and sometimes years of conditioning for someone to get in a mental state in which they convince themselves to put themselves through this torture.
But look at the practice of conversion therapy itself. San Francisco State University found that rates of suicide attempt nearly tripled to 63% and high levels of depression more than tripled to 52% for young queer people who had been through conversion therapy relative to those who haven't. 100% of the times, conversion therapy does not work. However, what it does do is increase individuals suicide rates to 63% and increases high levels of depression by 52%. We shouldn't be putting anyone into such despicable and dangerous practices; what we should be doing is offering therapy affirming of people's sexualities and genders.
Conversion therapy is a pseudoscientific practice with no medical or psychological backing. It is now widely condemned by medical bodies around the world, and very recently the UN called for a global ban of conversion therapy. But more importantly,
⁃ The New Zealand Psychological Society
⁃ the New Zealand Psychologists Board
⁃ The New Zealand Association of Counsellors
⁃ NZ College of Clinical Psychologists
Have all spoken in opposition to conversion therapy. The medical bodies have labelled it ineffective, unethical and often leading to extreme harm.
Conversion therapy destroys people. It ends lives. Increasingly, more and more people are speaking out about their traumas of conversion therapy. It is our collective responsibility as New Zealanders to protect vulnerable people, especially when the government refuses to do so.
Marja Lubeck has a member's bill, Prohibition of Conversion Therapy, in the biscuit tin. As we know it, this bill may never see the light of day in the biscuit tin lottery. If our government wanted, they could easily turn Marja Lubeck's member's bill into government policy and ban conversion therapy. However, the only political party that has a policy to ban conversion therapy is the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand. In contrast, David Seymour has made it clear that he will not be supporting a ban while the National Party has taken a vow of silence. As it stands, government inaction on conversion therapy gives it the status of state-sanctioned torture.
Conversion therapy is not about praying the gay away. It is about mentally and psychologically torturing the most vulnerable to death. The message is clear, legislate away the hate.
More information on @endconversiontherapynz
Words — @shaneellall
