“Gay conversion therapy” banned in Germany

The German Parliament puts an age-limited ban on the scientifically wrong practice of “Gay Conversion Therapy” which claims to “fix the abnormalities” in a person’s sex orientation. The country reports over a thousand such attempts per year, especially on minors often leading to depression, anxiety and suicides.

Any practice or advertising by groups offering the so-called therapy to minors are to be penalized with either imprisonment or fine. In addition, the legal guardians who force the children to undergo this futile “treatment”will also be brought before law and punished accordingly.

The German Federal Health Minister Jens Spahnwho is gay himself identifies this process to be a serious issue and hence, calls this new legislative action as a “clear signal that the state does not want this to happen.” The law was passed on 8 May 2020, making these therapies illegal if conducted on persons below the age of 18 years. Thus, Germany became the fifth country after Malta, Ecuador, Brazil and Taiwan to ban these medical or other practices including hypnosis and electric shocks aimed at subduing or altering a minor’s sexual orientation.

Critics have already come up with reproaches that the age limit should have included the “youth” instead of “minors”, thereby encompassing people up to the age of 26-27 years within the scope of the legislation. Some LGBTQ advocates are of the opinion that there are certain loopholes in the law, which makes it not applicable to spiritual advisors or religious folks.