LGBTIQA+ conversion practices banned in Victoria

A BILL banning LGBTIQA+ conversion therapy across the state passed the Upper House last week following several hours of debate.

Last Thursday, the Victorian government agreed the new laws could impose fines of $10,000 or up to 10 years in jail for attempting to change someone’s sexuality or gender identity.

The bill was supported 27 to 9 following a 12-hour debate, with Torquay resident and Member for Western Victoria Andy Meddick playing an instrumental role.

“These same people sought the right to deny marriage equality in this country, they failed then and they failed now,” he said.

“This bill is about the rights of those they sought and still seek to crush.”

The new law is the Andrews Government’s latest social reform bill since coming into power in 2014.

“My role was just to support the Andrews Labor government who have a progressive agenda on social justice issues,” Mr Meddick said.

“They saw that Victoria lagged behind other jurisdictions in this issue and they have done what a good government should do and not just reform but become world leaders.”

Mr Meddick, who played a vocal role in supporting the bill, addressed his own experiences with the LGBTIQA+ community.

“As the proud parent of two transgender children, and as a member of parliament with a vital vote on the crossbench, I feel it is my responsibility to call out the critics and opponents of this bill,” he said.

“This bill does something that should have been done a long time ago – it ends cruel so-called conversion therapies that attempt to suppress a person’s gender or sexual identity.”

Opposing members such as Liberal MP Bernie Finn called the Bill an “attack on basic freedoms”, while the Law Institute shared concerns over the broadness of the bill saying it could prevent parents from discussing gender identity and sexuality with their children.

“It is the same old, same old,” Mr Meddick said.

“The people against it trot out the same arguments we heard in the marriage equality act, by giving people rights it somehow infringes on the rights of others. It is a funny thing; people who say that are always the ones infringing other people’s rights
and freedoms.”

Under the new laws an individual can only be prosecuted if they are found to be dictating another’s sexual identity or orientation beyond reasonable doubt.

“Members of parliament who oppose this bill will be sending a message that my family doesn’t deserve to live their lives safely or with pride,” Mr Meddick said.

“My two trans children aren’t broken, they are perfect and now Victoria’s laws will reflect that – and I am so proud to play a part.”

While Mr Meddick believed the Bill will send the right message, he said it was only the first step and Victoria, like other jurisdictions, had a long way to go.

“I am in charge of a taskforce who have brought together a number of youths and experts to investigate the possibility of opening two LBTIQA+ safe places in Geelong and the Surf Coast.

“All these youths who have experienced isolation, harassment and homelessness can come and they have a one-stop shop of everything they need from counsellors and services.”

The safe house initiative has already received the support of Gender and Equality Commissioner Ro Allen as well as a number of local health providers, but a final report is yet to presented to the health minister.

“The longest journey begins with the first step, we took that a long time ago and I am old enough to remember the really bad days,” Mr Meddick said.

“We are on a good path here, but like everything in society it is a work in progress.”