Gay conversion therapy bill targets people of faith ‘in an unprecedented way’

Catholic and Islamic leaders have joined forces to urge the Andrews government to amend its proposed gay conversion therapy bill.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Geraghty

Catholic and Islamic leaders have joined forces to urge the Andrews government to amend its proposed gay conversion therapy bill, accusing it of appearing to target people of faith “in an unprecedented way”.

The joint letter from the Islamic Council of Victoria and Victorian Catholic Bishops came as the government unexpectedly delayed debate on the bill until Thursday, despite having secured the support of three key crossbenchers in the Animal Justice Party’s Andy Meddick, Reason Party leader Fiona Patten and Greens Leader Samantha Ratnam.

While there is almost universal support for the principle of outlawing coercive attempts to change people’s sexuality or choice of gender identity, religious groups, radical feminists and medical professionals including Australian Medical Association Victorian President Julian Rait have raised concerns about the bill’s potential to criminalise discussions between young people and their parents or medical professionals about whether or not to undergo irreversible gender transition procedures.

“Unfortunately, this bill doesn’t just ban outdated and insidious practices of coercion and harm, which we firmly reject,” Victoria’s most senior Islamic and Catholic leaders wrote in a joint letter to Premier Daniel Andrews on Tuesday.

“The bill also criminalises conversation between children and parents, interferes with sound professional advice, and silences ministers of religion from providing personal attention for individuals freely seeking pastoral care for complex personal situations.

“It includes ill-conceived concepts of faith and conversation, vague definitions, and scientifically and medically flawed approaches. It places arbitrary limitations on parents, families and people of faith.

“People change for all kinds of reasons, and should feel free to do so, whether it be on matters of personal identity, gender, sexuality, family association, or religion. Contrary to its intent, this bill obstructs people’s freedom by limiting, restricting and removing options for their good, thereby creating undesirable possibilities of harm.

“If a simpler, clearer bill had been tabled, with adequate consultation, then we would be able to give full support to a focused and practical way to protect people from harm.

“At present the bill appears to target people of faith in an unprecedented way, puts limits on ordinary conversations in families, and legislates for what prayer is legal and what prayer is not.

“Various amendments can be made to rescue the bill from taking Victoria into strange new territory, in which prayerful advice and guidance, freely sought by one adult from another, is criminalised.”

The faith leaders have requested an urgent “pause” on the passage of the bill, and a meeting with the Premier and Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes.

Amid considerable internal discord over the issue within the Coalition party room, Victoria’s state opposition on Tuesday announced it would support the bill, but move amendments.

“The Victorian Liberal Nationals strongly oppose the barbaric practice of LGBT conversion and suppression and support its banning,” opposition legal affairs spokesman Edward O’Donohue said.

“However, Daniel Andrews’ poorly-drafted bill also allows government interference in the relationships between medical professionals and patients, between parents and children, and between faith leaders and their congregations.

“This is why, while supporting the ban on LGBT conversion therapy, the Victorian Liberal Nationals will be moving a series of amendments to protect the rights of medical patients, families and faith communities.”