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We are survivors of conversion practices. LGBTQA+ Australians like us are at risk of these harmful practices, which tell them they're 'disordered' and 'broken.' 

The conversion movement makes pseudoscientific claims that tell LGBTQA+ people they can change their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Research and the testimonies of survivors have revealed that 10% of LGBTQA+ Australians are at risk of conversion practices, and that such practices are prevalent across Australia. 

Thanks to the advocacy of survivors and allies, LGBTQA+ Victorians and Canberrans are now protected from harmful conversion practices. Victoria’s world-leading legislation came into effect in February this year - it is based on the most comprehensive research and informed by the most prominent survivor groups in the world. It also includes the creation of a Civil Response Scheme that has powers for education, research, and investigation.

But other state and territory governments have failed to introduce reforms that effectively address and ban these harmful practices.

Together, we can insist that Australian governments work with survivor groups, such as SOGICE Survivors, Brave Network, and Ending Conversion Practices WA to draft effective legislation to combat conversion practices and ideology around the country.

Stand with us and with the LGBTQA+ community and call on Australian governments to protect LGBTQA+ people from conversion practices.

Amnesty International has signed onto the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Change Efforts (SOGICE) Survivor Statement calling on the Australian Government to end conversion practices, by signing this petition you are also endorsing the SOGICE Survivor Statement.

Sign the petition

  Act now

 

Dear Premiers, First Ministers, Attorneys General, and Health Ministers, 

Amnesty International has signed onto the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Change Efforts (SOGICE) Survivor Statement calling on the Australian Government to end conversion practices. By signing this petition you are also formally endorsing the SOGICE Survivor Statement.

Australian governments must commit to working with national survivor-led groups, such as SOGICE Survivors and Brave Network, to ensure this issue is addressed effectively.

We, the undersigned, call on you to protect people from being harmed by LGBTQA+ conversion practices. Successful conversion practices legislation must:

  • Strongly affirm that LGBTQA+ people are not ‘broken’ or ‘disordered’
  • Ban practices in both formal (medical/psychology/counselling) and informal (including pastoral care and religious) settings, whether paid or unpaid
  • Protect adults, children, and people with impaired agency, including prohibition of the removal of children from a jurisdiction for the purpose of conversion practices
  • Target the false, misleading, and pseudoscientific fraudulent claims that drive conversion practices
  • Focus on practitioners’ intent to facilitate change or suppression of a person’s orientation, gender identity or gender expression on the basis of pseudoscientific claims  
  • Prohibit advertising and promotion of paid or unpaid conversion practices, including promotion of false and misleading claims designed to generate demand
  • Prohibit referrals from practitioners, whether in informal or formal contexts
  • Establish a range of criminal and civil penalties
  • Provide counselling and redress for survivors
  • Provide investigative powers to a suitably advised body or commission, with scope for investigations to be initiated internally or as a response to complaints by third parties, not just by survivors, using strategies that prevent re-traumatisation.

Yours sincerely,

 Act Now