Planned legislation in New South Wales (NSW) to ban people seeking assistance for unwanted same-sex attractions or gender confusion has raised concerns from the community.
Conversion therapy, which is usually defined as methods used to change a person’s sexual preferences to being heterosexual, or in the case of gender dysphoria, to align with their biological sex, is set to be banned in NSW, the most populous state in Australia.
During the state election this year, Labor leader Chris Minns promised to ban conversion therapy if elected.
Different Opinions About Conversion Therapy’s Effect
Conversion therapy has long been considered a contentious issue.Forbidding People Seeking Help Even if They Want It
Critics of the legislation are concerned that despite good intentions, it may impact those who want to get help with “unwanted same-sex attractions or gender confusion.”“In Victoria, if you have a problem with alcohol use, you can get help; If you have problems with unwanted drug addiction or porn addiction, you can get help, but if you have a problem with unwanted same-sex attraction, or your child has a problem with gender dysphoria that they don’t want, you don’t want, you can’t get help, other than to affirm it.
“Your alternative is either to embrace the lifestyle or suffer inside.”
In Conflict With Parental Rights?
The possible legislation also raises doubt that if it will be in conflict with parental rights.In Australia, it is the legal right of parents to bring up their children according to their own values and beliefs.
“No one should be injured or treated in any sort of violent or threatening way because of these issues. We’re not against the parts of the law, which, for example, would go against someone being physically abused or going through harmful practices with this issue,” Dr. Ali Ismaiel from Parental Rights Committee Australia (PRCA) told The Epoch Times on June 26.
“But we do have a major objection to where these laws are very broad and include things like counselling, parents speaking to their children if they are confused about gender identity or sexual orientation.
“We’re very, very concerned that parents who really should have first rights and the utmost rights aren’t able to speak to their children and discuss these things with them in the privacy of their own home.”
Ismaiel said the committee is very concerned that New South Wales will pass laws similar to Victoria, where “the Liberals are quite authoritarian.”
Potential For Doctors to Be Silenced
In the United States, which has progressed further along with implementing transgender policies than Australia, doctors and therapists can have their licenses cancelled in some states, such as California, for helping people seeking conversion therapy.The situation is better in Australia, according to Kafataris.
“There have been complaints made against doctors, but when they cited the evidence… nothing’s gone any further,” he told The Epoch Times on June 26.
Kafataris has personal experience with this issue after he was referred to authorities over a statement he made during the same-sex marriage campaign.
“My response was that my report was based on my medical opinion and that my own personal political or philosophical views had nothing to do with it… and they never went any further.”
“I think that’s what doctors have to do, to stand on the evidence and not get bullied.”
However, the doctor is not that sure about what will happen if the legislation comes into law.
“At this point, if conversion therapy bans come in, that might change everything,” Kafataris said.
The Epoch Times has reached out to the NSW government and Premier Chris Minns for comment.