As New Zealand continues to prove that it has its shit together (remember the pandemic?), the most recent announcement should come as no surprise: the country has banned the abhorrent conversion therapy practice.
And the vote was almost unanimous.
Reuters reported that the bill passed on Tuesday (15 February) with 112 votes in favour and eight votes opposed.
The new vote means that the practice is now an offence when “serious harm” is caused, and can land guilty parties in prison for up to five years. (And actually, who wakes up and chooses to be a conversion therapy guide?!)
“This is a great day for New Zealand’s rainbow communities,” minister of justice Kris Faafoi said.
New Zealand joins France, Canada, Malta and Switzerland, while the UK government have continued to drag their feet.