New Law Criminalizes Praying with Someone About Gender, Sexual Identity

[1LoverofGod]

4/17/2025 Australia (International Christian Concern) — On April 4, the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) began enforcing a new law criminalizing anti-conversion therapy, which now includes praying with someone about their gender or sexual identity and even encouraging abstinence for queer Christians.

On the website Anti-Discrimination New South Wales, a government body that administers and investigates anti-discrimination, it’s explained that “praying with or over a person with the intent to change or suppress their sexuality or gender identify is unlawful … even if that person has asked you to pray for them to be able to change or suppress their sexuality or gender identity.”
NSW’s Conversion Practices Ban Act 2024 is part of a trend of laws that seek to outlaw “conversion therapy,” the clinical practice of forcibly changing someone’s gender or sexual identity. What makes the NSW law different is how broadly “conversion therapy” is defined beyond a traditional clinical setting.

In an interview with The Washington Stand, Arielle Del Turco, director of the Center for Religious Liberty at the Family Research Council, said, “This is a terrible new law in this Australian state, and they aren’t even trying to hide it. According to the state government’s own admission from their website, this law will prevent a pastor or any believer from praying with someone who is asking for prayer for freedom from gender identity issues.”

This prohibition extends not just to private prayers and requested counseling from a pastor but also to statements made publicly during sermons. The NSW government webpage explains that “a religious leader preaching to or praying for their congregation” may be considered an illegal conversation practice if it’s determined there is “intention to change or suppress an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity.”

More:

New Law Criminalizes Praying with Someone About Gender, Sexual Identity - International Christian Concern

On April 4, the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) began enforcing a new law criminalizing anti-conversion therapy, which now includes praying with someone about their gender or sexual identity and even encouraging abstinence for queer Christians.

www.persecution.org

 

[1LoverofGod]

 

[mattfivefour]

Well, I guess this is going to separate the sheep from the goats among those who occupy the pulpits of Australian churches.

I'm praying that somehow this law will be overturned, because it is a definite infringement on religion. We need to be alert and prayerful because sooner or later some pawn of Satan is going to try this here.

 

[1LoverofGod]

Well, I guess this is going to separate the sheep from the goats among those who occupy the pulpits of Australian churches.

I'm praying that somehow this law will be overturned, because it is a definite infringement on religion. We need to be alert and prayerful because sooner or later some pawn of Satan is going to try this here.

It's been here. It's banned in about 20 states. It's illegal in California.
I'm not sure what each state has for penalties as far as violations of their laws, but likely begins with fines and orders to cease, and failing to comply can lead to serving time.
But a case in Colorado has been brought before the US Supreme Court to try to overturn the ban and if SCOTUS sides with the plaintiff it should be overturned in every state, including California.

Supreme Court agrees to hear legal challenge to Colorado's 'conversion therapy' ban​

Monday, March 10, 2025

The United States Supreme Court has agreed to hear a legal challenge to Colorado’s law prohibiting licensed counselors from providing sexual orientation change efforts therapy for clients seeking their help.

In an orders list released Monday morning, the high court agreed without comment to hear the case of Kaley Chiles v. Patty Salazar et al., which challenges Colorado’s Minor Conversion Therapy Law.

The Alliance Defending Freedom, a religious freedom legal nonprofit representing Chiles, celebrated the court's decision to hear oral arguments in the case.

More:

Supreme Court agrees to hear legal challenge to Colorado's 'conversion therapy' ban

The United States Supreme Court has agreed to hear a legal challenge to Colorado s law prohibiting licensed counselors from providing sexual orientation change efforts therapy for clients seeking

www.christianpost.com

 

[mattfivefour]

The Colorado's law that is being challenged and other similar laws in those 20 states involve licensed professional counselors, correct? They do not involve pastors, Bible teachers or any Christian acting as a private individual, do they? I thought that first amendment issue was not currently under attack by state governments.

 

[Cheeky200386]

The Colorado's law that is being challenged and other similar laws in those 20 states involve licensed professional counselors, correct? They do not involve pastors, Bible teachers or any Christian acting as a private individual, do they? I thought that first amendment issue was not currently under attack by state governments.

Yes, that law is for licensed counselors like myself. It passed in MA in 2018 with counseling minors. I work with adults but LGBT issues don’t come up since I advertise myself as a Christian. I wouldn’t hesitate to break that conversion therapy law if it did come up though. I haven’t checked if that is applicable in NH or in MA with adults.

 

[1LoverofGod]

The Colorado's law that is being challenged and other similar laws in those 20 states involve licensed professional counselors, correct? They do not involve pastors, Bible teachers or any Christian acting as a private individual, do they? I thought that first amendment issue was not currently under attack by state governments.

Yes, it's primarily for counselors. But there are Christian counselors and I believe the case in Colorado is a Christian counselor and is why The Alliance Defending Freedom, a religious freedom legal nonprofit representing Chiles is representing the plaintiff. It is a first amendment issue.

 

[1LoverofGod]

This article addresses the ban in the US and mentions California

What’s the Problem with Conversion Therapy?​

“Ban Conversion Therapy” is the current rallying cry of the gay rights movement. Across the country, LGBTQ activists and their allies call for the criminalization of counseling geared to helping people turn from homosexual behavior (a form of counsel often labeled “Conversion Therapy”), and most of that counseling is provided by Christian counselors, pastors, or ministry leaders.
Ultimately, the outcome of efforts to ban Conversion Therapy will have enormous ramifications for freedom of religion and the church’s ability to continue preaching and teaching the full counsel of God. For this reason, believers should closely watch, and act on, efforts to criminalize Conversion Therapy.

In the 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges Supreme Court decision, granting legal protection to same-sex marriage, the US Supreme Court offered this reassurance to those concerned about the decision’s impact on religious liberty: “Finally, it must be emphasized that religions, and those who adhere to religious doctrines, may continue to advocate with utmost, sincere conviction that, by divine precepts, same-sex marriage should not be condoned. The First Amendment ensures that religious organizations and persons are given proper protection as they seek to teach the principles that are so fulfilling and so central to their lives and faiths, and to their own deep aspirations to continue the family structure they have long revered.”1

With contention over Conversion Therapy reaching fever pitch, Christians need clarification on what it is and how it aligns or conflicts with biblical standards. So a reasonable answer to the question “What’s the problem with Conversion Therapy?” might be “The problem is the way it’s presented and the way it’s practiced.”

It’s presented inaccurately by getting applied to anyone counseling or ministering to people who are attracted to the same sex, conflicted over those attractions, and seeking biblical guidance. Thus mental health professionals, ministry leaders, pastoral counselors, and Christian life-coaches nationwide are being labelled Conversion Therapists7 though none of them identify themselves that way.

In fact, an internet search finds no one operating as a Conversion Therapist, nor anyone advertising Conversion Therapy as a service. Certainly a number of websites can be found condemning the practice, but “Conversion Therapy” remains a tag imposed on, not chosen by, the people accused of practicing it.

...difference between the clinical and ministerial approaches to helping people with unwanted same-sex attractions. Both approaches have their place, and both are seriously misrepresented in these discussions.

The ministerial approach, usually taken by pastoral counselors or leaders of parachurch ministries, emphasizes discipleship, and places homosexual struggles in the broader context of the flesh-versus-spirit struggles experienced by all believers. It may or may not include emphasis on resolving early conflicts, and focuses on biblical concepts of managing temptations, walking in holiness, accountability, and sanctification.

Yet only the most naïve can think this censorship will stop with counselors. If America decides it is damaging to counsel people to turn from homosexuality and be transformed, then it will soon decide that preaching that people should turn from homosexuality is also damaging and should be banned. What began as an attempt to reform the culture to a pro-gay view has evolved into a commitment to reaching into the Christian population and demanding that it, like its surrounding culture, reform its views on marriage and family.

Read the entire article. It's very good in explaining the difference between Christian counseling and secular counseling as outlined in Psychiatry:

What's the Problem with Conversion Therapy? - Christian Research Institute

www.equip.org

 

[Ghoti Ichthus]

Well, I guess this is going to separate the sheep from the goats among those who occupy the pulpits of Australian churches.

I'm praying that somehow this law will be overturned, because it is a definite infringement on religion. We need to be alert and prayerful because sooner or later some pawn of Satan is going to try this here.

They're already trying, albeit weakly compared to other countries, via "politics-in-the-pulpit" and non-profit status. These days, most Pastors are pretty good about the line between social issues/morality and politics, and so far, "hate speech" and "hate literature" challenges have been few and far between.

Wonder if TPTB are planning on using some of those 86,000 IRS agents to "visit" churches . . .

It would be awesome if each heard and responded to The Gospel


That would be just like THE HOLY GHOST to do something like that. Turn what was intended for evil into a great blessing

Snatch the agents of satan right out of his hand!!!