Help us ban conversion practices in Tasmania and let us be who we are!

HOW TO HELP - QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE 

1. Help us fight the multiphobic algorithm and LIKE & SHARE posts in support of the Prohibiting Conversion Practices Bill.
   Collect the Tassie trifecta by following Equality Tasmania, Working It Out & TasPride on your socials.
2. Sign / add your name to the Parliamentary Petition in support of the Prohibiting Conversion Practices Bill because the results will be used to inform Government decision making. ADD YOUR NAME HERE
3. Use Equality Tasmania's easy email form and write to your local State Government MP to let them know where you stand.
   EMAIL FROM HERE
4. Be a myth buster, bust those myths like a boss!
   [see below for myths]

MORE INFORMATION FOR THE DEEP DIVERS

Why Sign The Parliamentary Petition?

The Conversion Prohibition Practices Bill is a proposal for a law that bans conversion practices.

A bill is a proposed law or change of law to be debated in parliament.

Our Tasmanian parliament collects petitions for or against bills that are up for debate to help MP's make decisions.

When you add your name to the petition prohibiting conversion practices you are directly influencing the government's decision making.

Petition closes on Monday the 26th October!

 

How to Write to Your MP (Member of Parliament)

Equality Tasmania have made it super easy to write to your local MP.

You can use their online form. Simply enter your name, email and postcode.

Computer magic finds your local MP from your postcode and automatically sends your message to their email address.

If you don’t know what to say, copy and paste the provided message by Equality Tasmania. Easy peasy!

Do this ASAP so your MP has time to read (their staff have time to tally the yays and nays) your email before the debate in State Parliament.

 

HOW TO BE A BOSS LEVEL MYTHBUSTER

Prohibiting Conversion Practices - The Myths:

 

"I'll be banned from talking to my kids about sexuality or gender!!!"

FALSE - "The Bill makes it illegal for parents to talk to their own kids about sexuality or gender."

Parents should always be able to talk to their children about sexual orientation and gender identity.

The Bill does not prevent parents from sharing their own beliefs about sexual orientation or gender identity.

But the Bill does identify a conversion practice if: a parent tells their child their sexuality is a mental illness and takes purposeful steps to enroll them in programs or services to “fix” their sexuality.

If that occurs, education and prevention, (not a penalty), are the first response.

LGBTIQA+ people are NOT “broken” and forcing us to suppress or hide our identity can lead to life-long trauma and psychological distress.

 

"Gender-affirming care will be mandatory!!!"

FALSE: "The Bill will make gender-affirming care mandatory or interfere with clinical decisions"

The Bill bans practices which are proven to have serious long-lasting negative impacts on mental health and wellbeing.

The Bill is designed to differentiate “conversion practices" (unscientific, unapproved medical interventions) from legitimate services.

The Bill does not force anyone to make decisions or provide certain treatments about gender-affirming care, including for children – these services will continue to be offered by the Tasmanian Government’s Gender Service and other specialised providers.

Parents will continue to have a say in medical decisions made about their children’s health and wellbeing.

The Bill helps ensure everyone is following the same evidence-backed standards that medical professionals already adhere to and provide consequences for people who are providing unsafe, unregulated and harmful practices to vulnerable people.

The Bill is very clear that any health practitioner can continue to use their expertise about providing gender-affirming care, ensuring their recommendations align with legal, professional and ethical guidelines.

 

"I'll be silenced from freedom of expression & religion!!!"

FALSE - "The Bill will silence freedom of expression and religion"
The bill does not prevent sermons, prayer, counselling, or pastoral care in religious settings. It does not stop anyone from expressing, living, or sharing their religious values or beliefs.

The Bill only stops coercive tactics to change someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity.

For example, it is a conversion practice if someone tells you that because of your gender identity or sexual orientation you are spiritually broken, and only through certain ritual, group prayer, or exorcism, you will be “cured”, “healed” or “fixed”.

Religious people of all faiths, genders, and sexual orientations deserve the freedom of self-expression and religious practice and thrive in a welcoming, safe community without conversion practices.

The Bill will provide education, open discussions, and support for religious communities who are concerned or unsure if they are conducting conversion practices.

Imposing one’s beliefs on another to change them is not an expression of personal freedoms; it is a violation of the freedoms of others.

 

"Conversations will be banned!!!"

FALSE - "the Bill bans conversations"
Everyone deserves the freedom to explore and better understand themselves, including aspects like sexuality or gender.
The CPP Bill makes a distinction between ordinary “exploration” (through legitimate therapeutic counselling) and false and misleading services.

Some new conversion practitioners have been known to use words like ‘exploratoration’ or ‘exploratory counselling’ to cover up/hide their real intention - of interrogating people for the purpose of suppressing, changing or eradicating their identity instead.

The Bill refers to these specific ‘exploration’ practices to ensure it is not a loophole that is exploited.

With these safeguards in place, the Bill will actually create a safer environment for people to explore their gender and sexual orientation.

 

AND A CLARIFICATION ON "CONVERSION"

NO - The CPP Bill does not stop people from transitioning or detransitioning

Supporting someone to affirm their gender under Tasmanian Laws is NOT a conversion practice – it is an essential way to show support, care and validation to trans and gender diverse people and is proven to support positive mental health outcomes.

 

HOW EMBARRESSING! 

Tasmania is the last state in Australia to prohibit conversion practices!

REMEMBER

Your voice has power, use it to help us ban harmful and dangerous conversion practices in Tasmania

Key Tasmanian LGBTIQA+ Community Organisations; Equality Tasmania, TasPride & Working It Out support the prohibition of conversion practices.

 

NEED SUPPORT?

If you have been affected by conversion practices, support is available:

QLIFE (3-9pm) Call: 1800 184 527 or webchat HERE

LIFELINE TAS Call: 13 11 14 or text: 0477 13 11 14 or chat online: HERE

WIO Individual Support - Make a booking HERE