The head of the Presbyterian church head in Australia has said its pastors will not be directed to obey a new law banning gay conversion practices. Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Reuters
The head of the Presbyterian church in Australia says its pastors will not be directed to obey the Victorian government’s new law banning gay conversion practices, calling the bill “a declaration of war on scripture”.
In an interview with Guardian Australia on Thursday, the moderator general of the Presbyterian church in Australia, Rev Peter Barnes, called the bill – which passed Victoria’s parliament earlier this month – “authoritarian” and said the church would ignore it on the basis that church leaders “don’t get our instructions from parliament house”.
LGBTQ Victorians celebrated Australia s groundbreaking ban on conversion therapy February 4, calling the bill gold-standard legislation that other states should follow. The bill will become law, local television news reported.
Lawmakers in Victoria s upper house of the state s parliament overwhelmingly voted 29-9 to pass the Change or Suppression (Conversion) Practices Prohibition bill.
Victoria Member of Parliament Andy Meddick, a proud father of two perfect transgender children, said, they do not need fixing.
Meddick, with the Animal Justice party, added, Nor do any other children or adults who do not fit an often religiously-held belief that sexuality and gender are binary only.
Here is what we know about Victoria s gay conversion bill
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Gay conversion therapy described as being akin to torture.
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A bill banning LGBTIQ+ conversion practices looks set to pass the Victorian Upper House today despite concerns from the Opposition, religious leaders, and health professionals who believe the law may have unintended consequences .
Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes said the legislation reflected the overwhelming view of Victorians and came about because the Government listened to survivors of conversion therapy . We ve heard them, we ve believed them, and we ve got scientific and medical evidence to back up that these practices are incredibly harmful and don t work, she told ABC Radio Melbourne.
Those found to have engaged in conversion practices that result in serious injury will face penalties of up to 10 years’ jail or up to $10,000 in fines.
In supporting the bill, Animal Justice party MP Andy Meddick described himself as the proud father of two “perfect” transgender children.
“They do not need fixing,” he said. “Nor do any other children or adults who do not fit an often religiously held belief that sexuality and gender are binary only.”
Labor’s Harriet Shing, the first openly lesbian member of Victorian parliament, acknowledged conversion therapy victims and survivor groups who have advocated for the ban for many years.