Better understanding of the scope and nature of LGBTQA+ religious conversion practices will support recovery

Australian states and territories have recently moved to ban practices aimed at changing or supressing the sexuality or gender identity of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, asexual or gender and sexually diverse (LGBTQA+) people, often referred to as “conversion practices” (Box 1).1-5 This legislative trend mirrors global recognition of the harms caused by conversion practices (Box 1)6-9 and is supported by the 2021 Australian Medical Association’s position statement on LGBTQIA+ health, which calls on state and territory governments to “ban coercive ‘conversion’ practices”.10 The Australian Psychological Society11 and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists12 have also issued position statements stating that sexual or gender orientation change efforts of any kind are harmful and are not supported by these organisations. While it is difficult to estimate the number of people affected by conversion practices in Australia, international research has suggested that up to 14% of people who identify as LGBTQA+ have had some exposure to conversion practices.13