Don't try to 'fix me' or you'll go to jail!

Change or Suppression (Conversion) Practices Prohibition Act 2021

In effect since the 17th of February 2022, The Victorian Government’s Change or Suppression (Conversion) Practices Prohibition Act 2021 is legislation to stop anyone from engaging in counseling, pastoral care, or just care and concern, that could possibly disagree with the LGBTQA+ perspective on the world.

Here’s a bit of an explainer from the The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission website:

“Change or suppression practices are deeply harmful practices which seek to change or hide an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity. They are sometimes referred to as ‘gay conversion’ practices or ‘conversion therapy’.

These practices are not supported by medical research. There is no evidence that sexual orientation or gender identity can be changed or suppressed.

Practices can include teachings, counselling, spiritual care activities, or other psychological or medical interventions based on the ideology that there is something wrong or broken about people with diverse sexualities or gender identities.

There is nothing wrong or broken about being LGBTQA.

These practices can involve people receiving subtle and repeated messages, that with faith and effort, they can change or hide their sexual orientation or gender identity.”

And here’s their short video explainer…

This legislation goes way beyond preventing someone from being kicked out of a church because they are engaged in some degenerate, possibly dangerous activity (cross-dressing pedophiles preying on the kids come to mind). Under this legislation a pastor, parent, friend, anyone, can’t even be suggesting that they need help, or that they can change. Praying for them, or even a sermon from the pulpit or casual discussion over coffee that’s contrary to the LGBTQA+ worldview, can all get you into deep trouble in Victoria.

As the video says, “these conversion practices don’t work and are deeply damaging to the whole community”.

Here’s a scenario…

Pastor Concerned: You are loved, God loves you, but what you are doing is wrong. Can we spend some time going through a few scriptures, have a chat and pray about your situation?

Queer Map: Pastor your microaggressive assault on me just now is violently traumatic! I can’t believe you would suggest that there is anything wrong with me! If it has anything to do with me and a few of the Sunday School kids exploring genitalia, then I’ll have you know that’s completely natural and I’m certain God would want us to be educating those adorable little kiddies. Besides, you’ve just broken the law, caused me a hell of a lot of trauma, and I’ll be going to the Victorian Police to lodge a complaint!

Of course I’m being hyperbolic (slightly) but you get the picture. And how many sexual deviants are going to target the church with this legislation?

The Premier of Victoria, Jacinta Allan, had this to say about ‘cruel conversion practices’:

…From today, people who subject others to change or suppression practices that cause serious injury can face criminal charges – with tough penalties of up to 10 years’ jail.

Anyone who advertises change or suppression practices faces a maximum fine of almost $10,000, while taking a person from Victoria to subject them to such a practice which causes injury attracts a maximum penalty of two years’ jail…

The laws strike the right balance between the important and legitimate objective of protecting people from the harm caused by change or suppression practices while respecting the rights to freedom of speech and freedom of religion…

And these pillars of our society…

“Change or suppression practices are deeply harmful and total quackery – they must be stamped out.”

“These laws send the clear message that these disgraceful practices are not tolerated in Victoria. We’ll always have the LGBTIQ+ community’s back – now the law does too.”

Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes

“For too long, these insidious practices have been allowed to ruin lives under the guise that LGBTIQ+ people are ‘broken’ and need to be ‘fixed.’ That stops today.”

Minister for Equality Martin Foley

And I have to stress again, it’s not just about a ‘forceful’, ‘violent’, ‘deeply traumatic’ practices (as it’s portrayed), but it’s a guarantee that no one, no matter how well meaning, can talk to, challenge, or even pray for someone in this ‘community’ (least of all pastors, counselors/psychologists, or social workers). I’m certain now, that in Victoria at least, holding fast to any sort of sexual morality is a violation of the law if you express any such moral conviction within the earshot of a LGBTQA+ adherent.

---