Australian Christian Lobby slams push for ‘gay conversion therapy’ ban

Laws banning gay conversion therapy would leave church leaders and parents at risk of jail for giving advice on gender issues, the Christian lobby says.

A national religious organisation has hit back at a push for a legislated ban on gay conversion therapy in South Australia, saying it would result in parents and pastors being jailed for counselling gender-dysphoric children.

LGBTIQA+ advocates say they are in discussions with the state government to outlaw the discredited practice – aimed at changing the sexual orientation or gender identity of subjects – as the Sunday Mail revealed last week.

Australian Christian Lobby state political director Christopher Brohier said the proposal, based on Victorian legislation, was “incoherent and potentially dangerous when applied to gender identity”.

Mr Brohier said the Victorian laws prohibiting conversion practices restricted parents, clinicians, and pastors from encouraging a “gender-confused child” to wait before embarking on medical pathways including puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and body-modification surgery.

Australian Christian Lobby state political director Christopher Brohier Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“It is clear that they are all very serious procedures and are experimental and likely very and irreparably harmful to children,” he said.

He said if similar legislation was introduced in SA, then individuals charged could face “long terms of imprisonment and massive fines”.

But Equality Australia legal director Ghassan Kassisieh said Victoria’s legislation was “world-leading” and encouraged other states and territories to follow suit.

“Opponents of equality wilfully misrepresent the impact of the Victorian laws for a simple reason – they do not believe that people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender are whole, valid or deserving of love just the way they are,” he said.

“The law allows the Human Rights Commission to provide targeted information to people engaging in conversion practices, only criminalising certain practices that have caused actual physical or lasting psychological injury to a person,” he said.

“There are exemptions for healthcare providers operating within legal or professional obligations.”

Mr Kassisieh said conversion practices could cause “lifelong harm” whether in a clinical or religious setting.

“They are completely unacceptable and out of step with 21st Century community expectations,” he said.

Bowden’s Activate Church community leader Kate Leaney said the Australian Christian Lobby did not represent the views of all religious organisations in SA.

“(It) is a smaller organisation with a very loud voice,” she said.

“What we are seeing more of from Christian communities is that they want to be more affirming and understanding of how people live their lives.

“There are plenty of ways that religious communities can offer support and have disscusions with people experiencing gender dysphoria without leading them to a particular decision.”

A state government spokeswoman said Labor remained “committed to ensuring conversion practices do not occur in South Australia” and it would consider and consult on any proposals.