[Eng. Prayer] New Zealand moves to outlaw LGBTQ conversion therapy.

“The waywardness of the simple will kill them, but whoever listens to me will live in safety.”

[Aug. 4. 2021] According to the British daily ‘The Guardian’ and ‘Reuters,’ New Zealand introduced a new bill on 30th July that, if it becomes law, will make “conversion therapy” aimed at LGBTQ people an offense punishable by up to five years in prison.

Conversion therapy can refer to a wide range of efforts to alter a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

If the Bill is passed, it will be an offense to perform conversion practices on anyone under 18 or someone with impaired decision-making capacity. Such offenses would be subject to up to three years’ imprisonment. It would also be an offense to perform conversion practices on anyone — irrespective of age — where the practices have caused serious harm and would carry up to five years’ imprisonment.

Kris Faafoi, the country’s justice minister, said in a statement Friday that “People who experience conversion therapy bring up persistent psychological distress, depression, shame, stigma, and even thoughts of extreme choices.”

“Conversion practices have no place in modern New Zealand. They are based on the false belief that any person’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression is broken and in need of fixing.”

He added that health professionals, religious leaders, and human rights advocates in New Zealand and overseas have spoken out against these practices as “harmful and having the potential to perpetuate prejudice, discrimination, and abuse towards members of rainbow communities.”

However, minister Faafoi said the Bill does not cover the general expression of religious beliefs or principles about sexuality.

Conversion therapy is legal in many parts of the world, including the UK and many states in the US.

The health community, including the American Psychological Association (APA), has concluded that there is no evidence that conversion therapy is successful in changing sexual orientation and gender identity.

The Guardian said that the Bill is highly likely to be passed in New Zealand with a current majority Labour government (Source: Yonhap News, Prayer 24·365 Comprehensive).

For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.” (Proverbs 1:32-33)

God, may You stop the foolish attempt of the New Zealand government as they are working on a new bill to ban ‘conversion therapy’ in the name of ‘protecting the vulnerable LGBTQ group. May You protect the children and many people who are deceived and misled by the foolish decision of the government, and are chasing after the pleasure. May You raise the churches in New Zealand that they will pray for the vulnerable groups of the people undergoing sexual confusion, and the believers will spread Your Word to them that many will be saved by hearing Your living and active Words.

Prayer 24·365
prayer@prayer24365.org