Queensland Consolidated Acts

PUBLIC HEALTH ACT 2005 - SECT 213F

213F Meaning of conversion therapy

(1)
"Conversion therapy" is a practice that attempts to change or suppress a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.

Examples—

a practice attempting to change or suppress a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity by—

• inducing nausea, vomiting or paralysis while showing the person same-sex images

• using shame or coercion to give the person an aversion to same-sex attractions or to encourage gender-conforming behaviour

• using other techniques on the person encouraging the person to believe being lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex is a defect or disorder

(2)
"Conversion therapy" does not include a practice by a health service provider that, in the provider’s reasonable professional judgement—

(a) is part of the clinically appropriate assessment, diagnosis or treatment of a person, or clinically appropriate support for a person; or

(b) enables or facilitates the provision of a health service for a person in a manner that is safe and appropriate; or

(c) is necessary to comply with the provider’s legal or professional obligations.

(3) Without limiting subsection (2) , the following are examples of the types of practices to which that subsection may apply—

(a) assisting a person who is undergoing a gender transition;

(b) assisting a person who is considering undergoing a gender transition;

(c) assisting a person to express the person’s gender identity;

(d) providing acceptance, support or understanding of a person;

(e) facilitating a person’s coping skills, development or identity exploration, or facilitating social support for the person.

Examples of the types of practices—

• exploring psychosocial factors with a person or probing a person’s experience of sexual orientation or gender identity

• providing a speech pathology or gender transition service for a trans-gender or gender-diverse person wishing to alter the person’s voice and communication to better align with the person’s gender identity

• advising a person about the potential side effects of sex-hormonal drugs or the risks of having, or not having, surgical procedures