New Zealand Bill Would Criminalize Ex-Gay Torture

The Guardian reports:

New Zealand has introduced legislation to ban conversion practices, saying the practice is harmful and has “no place in modern New Zealand.”

“Those who have experienced conversion practices talk about ongoing mental health distress, depression, shame and stigma, and even suicidal thoughts,” the minister of justice, Kris Faafoi, said as he introduced the legislation on Friday.

The legislation makes it an offence to perform conversion practices on anyone aged under 18, or with impaired decision-making capacity, with a sentence of up to three years’ imprisonment. It also makes it an offence to perform conversion practices that cause “serious harm,” irrespective of age. That carries a sentence of up to five years’ imprisonment.

Read the full article.

‘No place in modern New Zealand’: government signals conversion practices ban https://t.co/BKM9daIJmN

— The Guardian (@guardian) July 30, 2021