End Conversion Practices in Tasmania

The Tasmanian Government has committed to introducing legislation against conversion practices based on the model recommended by the Tasmanian law Reform Institute.

But groups in support of conversion practices are spreading myths and misinformation.

Please sign, send and share the following email to all Tasmanian state politicians.

If you have a personal comment or a personal story about conversion practices please add it to the text below.

Dear Member of the Tasmanian Parliament,
I urge you to support the Tasmanian Law Reform Institute’s proposal to prohibit conversion practices and I congratulate the Tasmanian Government on its commitment to implement that proposal.
Sexual orientation and gender identity cannot be changed, suppressed or eliminated.
Attempts to do this are ineffective and cause great harm.
Recent research from La Trobe University and the University of Tasmania shows that 1 in 20 LGBTQIA+ Tasmanians have been through formal conversion practices and that survivors of these practices are 3 to 4 times more likely to have PTSD and to attempt suicide than other LGBTQIA+ people.
Tasmanian conversion practices survivor, Erenie Hiras, has said,
“I know first-hand that conversion practices, and the ideology they are based on, cause deep harm lasting a life time. The worst is when conversion practices inevitably fail because they just don’t work. You blame yourself for letting everyone down. That is when conversion survivors are at their most vulnerable.”
The harm caused by conversion practices is why all of the health organisations and officials that made submissions to the TLRI agreed these practices should be prohibited.
It is not possible to consent to conversion practices because they are based on false, misleading and fraudulent pseudo-psychological claims about sexual orientation and gender identity.
As Tasmanian conversion survivor, Brownyn Larkins has said:
“You can’t consent to a ‘treatment’ that doesn’t work for a ‘disease’ that doesn’t exist by a ‘therapist’ who isn’t qualified.”
The TLRI proposal will not undermine religious freedom, parental rights or medical treatment.
According to the TLRI, religious officials will be free to express their theological views and a parent will still be able to talk to their children about their values.
Medical practitioners will be free to provide full and complete advice about medical treatments, including for trans and gender diverse patients, within existing professional guidelines.
The guidelines will be developed and adapted by the Chief Psychiatrist in consultation with medical bodies
This is why the Tasmanian branch of the Australia Medical Association has endorsed the TLRI model.
Other countries like New Zealand have passed legislation against conversion practices. So have Queensland, the ACT and Victoria. The WA and SA Governments have committed to acting and legislation is proposed for NSW.
Tasmania must act soon so that it does not become a haven for conversion practitioners from other states.
I agree with Equality Tasmania spokesperson, Dr Lucy Mercer-Mapstone who has said,
“It must be a matter of ‘when’ not ‘if’. Conversion practices are outdated, ineffective, unethical and cruel. Our legislation needs to reflect that. No LGBTIQA+ Tasmanian should experience the harm and trauma inflicted by conversion practices.”
Finally, I ask that the authorities charged with implementing these laws are sufficiently resourced and have powers to educate, investigate and research.
Best wishes,