Banning Conversion Therapy w/ Shaneel Lal

Conversion therapy has been roundly condemmed by LGBT groups, the medical community, and human rights organisations. In Aotearoa, banning conversion therapy is part of three parties' platforms: Labour, the Greens and the Māori Party. 72% of the population also support such a ban.

Yet, the practice remains legal. While the Labour government have indicated they wish to implement the policy by the end of the year, no timeframe has been given for when this process will actually commence. Local LGBT groups and activists have decried the lack of urgency with which the government is handling an issue which effectively amounts to torture of the most vulnerable in the LGBT community.

Hanna speaks to Shaneel Lal (they/them), co-founder of the Conversion Therapy Action Group, about the practice, counterarguments against banning it, and why action on the issue has been so sluggish.