A bill banning LGBTIQ+ conversion therapy has passed Victoria's Upper House, and will become law, despite tensions within the Coalition and concerns from some religious leaders that the law could have unintended consequences.
Key points:
- The bill makes it illegal to try and change or suppress a person's gender identity or sexual orientation
- Harriet Shing, the only openly gay MP in the Upper House made an emotional speech in favour of the bill
- Liberal Bernie Finn said the bill was an attack on basic freedoms and freedom of choice
The bill passed without amendments at around 10:30pm on Thursday night, 27 votes to nine.
The Change or Suppression (Conversion) Practises Prohibition Bill makes it illegal to try and change or suppress a person's sexual orientation or gender identity in Victoria.
It also gives power to Victoria's Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission to investigate and refer matters to police.
The law includes prison terms of up to 10 years or hefty fines for anyone caught trying to suppress or change someone's sexuality by conducting suppression practices.
The bill had the support of the Greens' Samantha Ratnam, Fiona Patton from the Reason Party and Andy Meddick from the Animal Justice Party.
The only openly gay MP in the Victorian Upper House, Harriet Shing, made an emotional speech in favour of the bill.
Ms Shing, the Member for Eastern Victoria, sobbed as she spoke about the "deeply personal" nature of the bill.
"Shame is at the heart of the need for this legislation, and it is a recognition of this shame that has brought about the importance of a bill like this," Ms Shing said.
"Shame comes in so many layers, and people who grow up in a family or in a faith that says that they are not good enough, that they are wrong — that we are wrong — that says in fact that love is conditional upon us either denying who we are or agreeing to change — or in certain tragic circumstances, are forced to change."
The Victorian Opposition said it would not oppose the legislation but unsuccessfully tried to put forward amendments after raising concerns about religious freedoms.
Outspoken Liberal MP and the Member for Western Metropolitan region, Bernie Finn, said he believed the bill went too far.
"This bill is an attack on basic freedoms, it is an attack on freedom of choice, it is an attack on free speech and it is an attack of freedom of association," Mr Finn said.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiYGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIxLTAyLTA1L3ZpY3Rvcmlhcy1nYXktY29udmVyc2lvbi1iaWxsLXBhc3Nlcy11cHBlci1ob3VzZS8xMzEyMjA1ONIBJ2h0dHBzOi8vYW1wLmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvYXJ0aWNsZS8xMzEyMjA1OA?oc=5
2021-02-04 19:52:00Z
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