What Is Conversion Therapy AND Should It Be Banned?

Conversion Therapy is a bizarre coupling of opposing words.
A conversion is something a person does to and for themselves.
A therapy is something others do to you, such as a medical procedure or process.
It is supposedly a form of treatement that is supposed to change a person from non Hetrosexual to Hetrosexual.

On one hand I'm told Conversion Therapy includes torture, electrocution, chemical intervention, coercion, elevated application of abusive guilt & shaming language.  When I asked who exactly decides they want torture, electrocution, chemical intervention & elevated verbal abuse to change their sexual preference I'm then told in practice its something else. More subtle and evil.
Yes, established as evil and then different definition. THIS is the old bait & switch...

So which is it? Torture, electrocution, chemical & verbal abuse or something else and why would someone decide they need those unethical & illegal acts to achieve a particular goal they want?

Do I oppose these evil acts that are already illegal? Yes
Do I think that it's so bad it must be made illegal under an additional Act of Parliament? Well Yes & No.
I haven't found where it exists and if it is the evil of torture etc its already illegal.

Where some of the juridictions are going foul is in the drafting of legislation that will effectively make it a criminal offence for a parent to even speak to their child about their "gender identity" or their sexual preference UNLESS it is affirming the child's thoughts.

Just let that sink in, you cannot do or say anything about your child's orientation or identity no matter what it is or if it goes against your values as an adult parent. You must affirm the child's view or be charged & potentially recieve a criminal record. It even in some jurisdictions has the potential to see the child of any age removed from the parent's care.

Again...just let that sink in. The State will determine the things you say whilst parenting & prosecute you if you breach.

Its also travelling down another dangerous path and I suspect it's really the main intent. It will outlaw religious faiths in their own places of worship commenting on same sex matters or quoting their own holy texts relating to that issue. 

Again...just let that sink in. The State will be banning parts of the Torah, The Bible, The Quran, The Hadiths, The Vinaya etc... closed upon fear of criminal prosecution.

So where has "Conversion Therapy" actually happened?
We're still trying to find out.

The Albany Pride group protested about the evening held at the Albany Baptist Church which they said was promoting Conversion Therapy. They enlisted & got the support of local Labor MP Rebecca Stephens MLA who said she opposed it completely. Seems fair, dig deeper its odd.

As it turns out, the evening was 2 guest speaker talking about their journey from a life in the LBGTQI+ world to a life as practising Christians away from LBGTQI+ practices & life.
They did not undergo torture, electrocution, chemical intervention or guilt/shaming verbal abuse or any kind of conversion therapy. They were not forced into any intervention or "therapy"

What they sought & got was pastoral care & support. Which they said they were grateful for & was completely 100% no pressure and solely from their seeking.

Not long after the Australian Christian Lobby was denied access to a venue in Perth & Albany. Again they were accused of promoting Conversion Therapy & yet, again it is totally untrue.

Here's the thing, I don't care if your gay or straight or indentify as LBGTQI or any of the plus letters. Your choice. I may or may not agree, but each to their own.

If you are a devout Jew, Christian, Muslim, Buddist or anything else follower...
Your choice. I may or may not agree, but each to their own.

It is odd that religious faiths are being restricted in their freedom of faith, worship & speech is being penalised for torture & abuse they are not committing at all. They will be state regulated by what they can say from their respective pulpits or the like in their own places of worship. That parents will be breaking the law by guiding their children, (y'know parenting their own children) until the child is an adult and legally allowed to make their own decisions. 

It is already not possible for any parent to allow illegal acts like torture, electrocution or chemical treatment to their kids. It is not allowed, it is abuse.

The Summary...

UNDER THE ACTIVIST DEFINITIONS, THERE IS NO CONVERSION THERAPY IN AUSTRALIA. NONE, WE'RE STILL TRYING TO FIND IT.

WE CANNOT FIND ANY RELIGIOUS GROUPS ANYWHERE IN AUSTRALIA WHERE ANYONE WILLINGLY OR AGAINST THEIR WILL UNDERGOES CONVERSION THERAPY. IF YOU KNOW OF ANY, DO NOT WAIT FOR LEGISLATION TO ACT.

ACT NOW!

Question - So what do you do if you do find someone who is in Conversion Therapy or a person/s conducting Conversion Therapy?

Answer - CALL THE POLICE AND CALL STRAIGHT AWAY because any "therapy" that includes torture, electrocution, chemical intervention, coercion, elevated abusive guilt & shaming language isn't therapy.  IT IS ABUSE, IT IS ILLEGAL ALREADY. CALL THE POLICE.

Question - What if someone wants to introduce legislation to ban Conversion Therapy?

Answer - Walk past them, ignore them, vote against it because there is no reason to pass an Act on abusive treatement that is already illegal under the criminal code. My guess is the legislation will include provisions to halt religious groups delivering parts of their faith that cover Homosexuality. The plan is likely to commit over reach by the State & dominate the freedom to worship and dictate what can & cannot be in sermons or religious teachings.

And do remember to go easy on anyone pushing for legislation to outlaw Conversion Therapy. 

There will be people who have been duped, well meaning, kind & generous people who thinks its happening and that the abuse isn't already outlawed.