LGBTQI community urges action on conversion therapy with Labor promising new laws after the March election

The State Government’s failure to ban conversion therapy and remove barriers to surrogacy for gay couples is frustrating the LGBTQI community. A survey of nearly 600 people by Rainbow Futures WA, the State’s peak LGBTQI body, found the top issues troubling the gay, trans and gender-diverse community were banning so-called conversion therapy — practices that attempt to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity — and strengthening anti-discrimination protections. Equal treatment under surrogacy laws, banning early stage medical interventions on intersex people — those born with sex characteristics not necessarily easy to classify as male or female — and self-ID laws for trans people were other points of concern. Rainbow Futures chief executive Misty Farquhar said the State election in March was an opportunity to seek commitments from WA’s political parties to progress the issues that mattered to the community. The Government has promised to ban conversion therapy but new laws will not be passed until after the March election, which it is widely expected to win. Similarly, planned changes to the Equal Opportunity Act have been delayed until after the election — in part to avoid overlap with Federal anti-discrimination reforms. Of those surveyed by Rainbow Futures 96.5 per cent said ending conversion therapy was either “extremely” or “very” important. Stronger anti-discrimination laws and removing exemptions for faith-based organisations were also considered a priority (94 per cent), as was removing obstacles that discriminate against male couples seeking surrogacy (87 per cent). Concerns were also raised about the need for health, education and law services to be better at recognising and accommodating the needs of LGBTQI people. Lengthy waiting times for gender-affirming care were also criticised.