TAS draft legislation banning conversion therapy met with criticism for containing loopholes
The Tasmanian government has finally released its plan to ban conversion therapy. But gender and sexually diverse Tasmanians say the draft legislation contains so many loopholes and caveats, the harmful practice will be able to continue.
Transcript
00:00 Brom Larkins was 16 when her mother found out she was attracted to girls.
00:07 She told her she was just confused and took her to a hypnotherapist.
00:12 She underwent 8 sessions and listened to a tape each night that told her homosexuals
00:16 had something inherently wrong with them.
00:18 I miss most of my grade 9.
00:21 I can't remember my childhood.
00:24 I have difficulties and complexities when I'm in relationships because of how I feel
00:31 about myself.
00:32 What Brom was subjected to is a type of conversion practice, which aims to change, suppress or
00:38 eradicate a person's sexual orientation or gender identity.
00:42 18 months after the state government promised to outlaw conversion practices, it's detailed
00:47 how a ban could look.
00:49 We cannot have these horrendous acts that we've seen in the past continue, but we also
00:55 have to strike that balance to ensure that there is religious freedoms.
01:00 Under the draft legislation, carrying out a conversion practice that causes physical
01:05 or mental harm will equate to a criminal offence.
01:08 But if a person provides consent, that can be used as a defence.
01:13 It's impossible to consent to conversion practices because we're talking about a so-called treatment
01:17 that doesn't work for a so-called condition that doesn't exist.
01:21 It also doesn't count support, guidance or mentoring given by family, friends or health
01:26 professionals or provided in a religious or spiritual setting as conversion therapy.
01:32 Looking at the legislation and the way that it is worded and the lack of detail around
01:37 what is guidance, the exactly same thing that happened to me at 16 can happen again under
01:43 this legislation.
01:45 Religious groups also have concerns about the legislation, saying it will restrict vulnerable
01:50 people from getting help.
01:52 The state government is urging Tasmanians to have their say, either online or in writing.
01:57 The window for that feedback closes on February 16.
02:00 [BLANK_AUDIO]