Lawmakers in New Zealand have passed in a near-unanimous vote a bill banning conversion therapy, the dangerous and discredited practice that seeks to change or suppress a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.
The bill, which was first introduced last summer, passed by a vote of 112 to 8 in a legislative session on Tuesday. The text of the bill says it aims to recognize and prevent harm caused by conversion practices and to promote respectful and open discussions around gender and sexuality.
“Conversion practices are based on the false idea that people are wrong or broken because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Such practices and ideas have no place in a modern, inclusive country like Aotearoa,” said the center-left Labour Party, using the Māori name for New Zealand.
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