Finland to consider conversion therapy ban after overwhelming public demand

The parliament of Finland will consider a total ban on conversion therapy, after an overwhelming number of Finns signed a citizens’ initiative.

The initiative, which would ban efforts to change the sexual orientation or gender identity of both adults and children, gathered the necessary 50,000 signatures in just one month and is now being referred to parliament.

Perttu Jussila, who launched the initiative, told YLE: “It’s insane that conversion treatments have not been banned yet.

“After all, the regulation of alternative therapies was included in [prime minister Sanna Marin‘s] government’s programme. A couple of years have passed now since the government was established, and nothing has really happened.

“The EU has condemned conversion therapies in its policy, and Malta already banned the treatments in 2016.

“I simply came to the conclusion that the issue wouldn’t be addressed without a citizens’ initiative.”

Jussila said it was vital to ban conversion therapy for adults as well as minors, even if it was legally difficult considering that adults can consent to the debunked treatment.

“It’s hardly the easiest legal issue in the world, but it is not impossible either,” they said.