Queensland religious groups fight move to make gay conversion therapy a crime
Christian schools and organizations attack the Queensland government plan to make LGBT conversion therapy a criminal offense PASTORS TO BE JAILED FOR COUNSELLING PEOPLE Religious schools and organizations are fighting a move by the Queensland government to make LGBT-related conversion therapy a crime in the state. In late November, the Queensland government introduced legislation that would, among other amendments to health legislation, make the practice of conversion therapy to change or suppress a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity punishable by up to 18 months in jail. The examples provided in the legislation include aversion therapy, psychoanalysis or hypnotherapy with the aim of changing or suppressing a person’s sexuality, b ut it also extends to counseling and group activities. The legislation – which followed a 2018 Human Rights Law Centre review into conversion therapy practices in Australia – has the support of some medical bodies, and atheist human