Israel Passes Bill Banning 'Conversion Therapy’
Israeli MPs have passed a bill outlawing gay ‘conversion therapy’, becoming the first Middle Eastern country to do so.
The bill is said to risk a political crisis in the country, with religious parties being unhappy about the move.
Opposition Meretz party leader Nitzan Horowitz, who co-authored the bill, said its preliminary passage marked “historic change” in Israel.
Cwntrist member of the government Blue and White leader and Alternate Prime Minister Benny Gantz welcomed the result.
“Conversion therapy was born in sin and its place is outside of the law and the public norm,” he tweeted. “We will make sure that everyone, from every background and sexual orientation in Israel, has free choice and security over their identity.”
As ‘BBC’ reports, Israel has the most progressive attitude towards LGBTQ people in the Middle East, despite opposition from some conservative sections of society. They are protected by anti-discrimination laws, have adoption and same-sex inheritance rights, and have been allowed to serve in the military since 1993 and Israel has a record number of openly gay MPs and last year appointed its first openly gay minister.
For the bill to become law, it must still pass two more readings.
Read related myGwork articles here:
South Australia Moves To Outlaw ‘Conversion Therapy’
Boris Johnson Vows To Ban Conversion Therapy
Albania Has Banned Gay ‘Conversion Therapy’ For Minors
Germany Passes Law Banning Conversion Therapy For Minors
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