New Zealand Parliament Votes To Ban Ex-Gay Torture

The New Zealand Herald reports:

Parliament has passed a bill in its third reading that will ban conversion practices, such as those attempting to change people’s sexuality and/or gender. The bill passed with 112 MPs in favour, including all those from Labour, Act, the Green Party and Te Pāti Māori. Eight National MPs opposed the bill.

It was an emotional third reading and debate with many of Parliament’s rainbow MPs sharing their own stories. Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson said he had grown up in a “churchgoing household” during the era of homosexual law reform. “When I finally gathered the courage to come out to my parents I was met with love,” he said.

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