Austria’s proposed conversion therapy ban faces roadblock over transgender rights

The proposed ban on conversion therapies faces a significant hurdle as the conservative-Green government had different opinions on whether the ban should extend to treatments for transgender individuals.

The Austrian conservative-Green government intended to propose in parliament on Wednesday a bill to prohibit conversion therapies after unanimously passing a resolution banning conversion therapies related to sexual orientation in 2021.

However, this endeavour faced a setback due to contrasting stances regarding whether the ban should encompass treatments for transgender individuals as well.

While the conservative ÖVP wanted to introduce a bill on Wednesday that would implement the 2021 resolution “one-to-one”, ÖVP MP Nico Marchetti told APA Justice Minister Alma Zadić (Greens) rejected this proposal, and “insists on things that go beyond the unanimous agreement of parliament.”

However, from the perspective of the Green Party, the situation is not as straightforward. The ÖVP has already had a draft on the table since October 2022, which included provisions for banning conversion therapies targeting transgender individuals, Zadić stressed.

The ÖVP’s reluctance to protect “gender identity” and “gender expression” would have hindered the project, impeding efforts to safeguard children and young people, she said.

“However, a sham solution – which does not protect all people of the LGBTIQ+ community from these ‘pseudo-therapies’ – will not exist with us”, Zadić emphasised, adding that trans and inter persons would be most often affected by conversion therapies.

Criticism also came from the opposition.

While the Greens gained support from the social democratic SPÖ for wanting to include transgender individuals, liberal NEOS LGBTIQ spokesperson Yannik Shetty called the government to “stop with the eternal tactics and put-offs”, emphasising the urgent need to prioritise the rights and protection of young people.

(Chiara Swaton | EURACTIV.de)