News

Gay Conversion Therapy Part 1: “I convinced myself I could ignore it.”

While Sydney WorldPride is taking place this month, NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has conceded that he will back a ban on gay conversion therapies in the state. 

Conversion therapies have already been banned in Victoria, the ACT and Queensland, with proposed legislation also underway in Western Australia. 

Listen to the full episode below:

On today’s The Briefing, we speak to Kim Kemmis, a man who trained to be a Christian minister before going through gay conversion therapy. 

Kemmis grew up in an Anglican church in the 70s, where he was told homosexuality is sinful. 

I am bisexual, so I convinced myself that the homosexual part of me wasn’t really important, and I could ignore it,”

Kemmis said,

In the late 1990s, Kemmis was involved in an ex-gay ministry. He said these ministries try to “help” them become heterosexual because their religion teaches them that same-sex attraction is wrong.  

Fundamentally, you might think it’s about your religion, but it’s not a faith issue, it’s a health issue. This is damaging people psychologically. I hear both stories about people who have done self-harm…When I came out of it, I was not in good shape.”  

Download the free LiSTNR app for more episodes of The Briefing.

Caitlin Duan

Recent Posts

Billie Eilish Announces Australian Tour

Following the news of her highly anticipated third studio album HIT ME HARD AND SOFT,…

1 hour ago

“My Sense Is That He May Have Coached His Last Game!” | Brent Read On Bunnies Board Meeting

Jason Demetriou will likely learn his long term fate as South Sydney Rabbitohs head coach…

4 hours ago

Rory Sloane Explains Why Mason Cox Style Goggles Couldn’t Have Helped Him Play On

"With retinal tears and detachments, goggles don’t help... they occur from whacks in the head"

5 hours ago

Billy’s Night Out Joke

Billy dropped the F-bomb during the punchline to secure Plastic on a Monday! "She said,…

6 hours ago

“I’m Really Proud Of Luke” | Wendell Sailor On Luke Keary Announcing His Retirement

Three time premiership winner Luke Keary has decided to hang up the boots at the…

7 hours ago

Could Australia Follow Finland’s Lead In Ending Homelessness?

Australia, like many countries worldwide, grapples with the enduring challenge of homelessness. Data shows that…

7 hours ago