A Dive Into the Horrors of Conversion Therapy in Australia
- Lindsay Wong
- Nov 9, 2020
- 4 min read
Written by Lindsay Wong
Edited by Simran Luthiya
Conversion therapy is notorious for harming LGBTQ+ people and violating human rights. Unfortunately, it is still a reality for many, who are subjected to it secretly because many countries still do not have a national ban on it. In the case of Australia, where same-sex marriage is legal, conversion therapy is only banned in two territories and currently there is no national ban. This situation HAS to change in order to protect LGBTQ+ people and to ensure their basic human rights are respected.
"42nd anniversary of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade in Sydney, Australia"
Source: Thomson Reuters News Foundation
What is conversion therapy and what are its effects?
Conversion therapy refers to the practices attempting to changing the sexual orientation or gender identity or discouraging personal expression of LGBTQ+ people. The goal of conversion therapy is to force the individual to adopt a heterosexual and cisgender identity, despite the fact that it has been scientifically proven that conversion therapy is ineffective and is inherently and morally unethical. It is extremely detrimental to LGBT people because it causes long-lasting distress, severe trauma, psychological damage and creates feelings of guilt and wrecks havoc on the person’s mental health. It also encourages internalized homophobia, shame and self-hatred.
Who does this affect?
© Copyright Australian Human Rights Commission
History of Conversion Therapy in Australia:
Conversion therapy has deep roots in Australia. Like most countries, Australia was homophobic in the 1950s and authorities heavily tried to curb and control homosexuality. When same sex couples were caught engaging in consensual sexual acts,they were arrested. Once in the prison system, they were then segregated and medicalized. In the following two decades, psychiatric doctors frequently used conversion therapy. This took the form of apomorphine therapy, in which they injected “patients” with up to 6 mg of morphine to induce nausea after they were shown pictures of individuals of the same sex . “Patients” were also forced to read about homosexuality out loud before receiving electroshocks. Doctors firmly believed they were "curing" these inmates of their homosexuality.
Conversion therapy has also been linked to religious groups who perceive homosexuality as a “sickness of the soul.” In order to contain the spread of the “sickness” that is homosexuality, religious conversion therapy tends to focus on extensive praying and ostracizing the individual and placing them in confinement, away from their own family and community. In some cases, exorcism, castration, lobotomy and clitoridectomy are used as conversion tactics. This equates the individual to being subhuman and not worthy of their own body.
© Copyright 20 La Trobe University
Current Situation in Australia:
The legalization of same-sex marriage in Australia 2017 was a long overdue step in the right direction for protection for LGBTQ+ rights and the first territories banned the harmful practice of conversion therapy only a few years later. Earlier this year, the state of Queensland and Australian Capital Territory officially banned conversion therapy and deemed it a criminal offense. However, Queensland does not extend the ban to include the less-formalized practices that are mostly conducted in religious settings. This is highly problematic because religious-based conversion therapy is the most common in Australia and includes "counselling" and torture.
While conversion therapy is now frowned upon and not promoted on a widespread basis, it still takes place in many Australian territories. According to a report done by the Human Rights Law Center, Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria and La Trobe University, conversion therapy happens in secret, particularly within some Christian churches. Their practices are about achieving “sexual purity” and “sexual wholeness.” These organizations indoctrinate problematic ideas into people’s minds and claim that there are are certain reasons for their homosexuality. These reasons are often centered around the upbringing and childhood of children with claims including but not limited to homosexuality as a result of having an absentee father or a very strong relationship with the mother.
Creator: Mike S.
© Copyright Global Charity Foundation
What should be done and how can you help?
The dangerous effects of conversion therapy were exposed in the latter half of the 20th century, prompting activists to speak out against it. The public gained more awareness about this widespread issue and how detrimental it is to the LGBTQ+ community. At the beginning of 21st century, more and more survivors of conversion therapy from various parts of world, fought and won lawsuits and legal battles against the practice of conversion therapy. Many organizations that conducted and promoted conversion therapy (a large proportion of which were based on religion) were also shut down. Conversion therapy has already been banned in a number of countries including Brazil, Germany and the US. Australia should rapidly follow suit if it is fully dedicated to protecting the rights of the LGBTQ+ community.
Australia should implement a national ban on conversion therapy, which would work in tandem with human rights laws. The ban should be accompanied by providing more support to victims and survivors of conversion therapy. This could be achieved by enacting community awareness campaigns that dive deeper into highlighting the discrimination and prejudice forming the core of conversion therapy practices.
You can help advocate for the protection of the LGBT community by signing the following petition :
The report ‘Preventing Harm, Promoting Justice: Responding to LGBT conversion therapy in Australia’ calls for action by addressing the government, the healthcare sector and the religious communities,urging them to enact better laws and deliver a better response against conversion therapy. You can educate yourself on this topic using the link provided below:
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