McAnulty KieranKIERAN McANULTY (Labour—Wairarapa): Thank you Mr Speaker. It wasn't my intention to speak on this this evening but there have been more opportunities than we expected—because we thought that there would be some members tonight that would wish to speak in Opposition to this bill. Given that there were seven members that voted no we thought that some of them would come to this House tonight and explain to the New Zealand people why.But I am an optimist and I would like to think that that's because they've had time to reflect and they've changed their mind. Perhaps it's because they've thought of the old saying You can't change what isn't broken." What's the point in trying to fix what isn't broken? That is the guts of what we're debating tonight.There is nothing wrong with being gay. There is nothing wrong with being trans. What is there to change? What is there to convert? This whole concept that there is this process that could change someone from being gay to being straight is a falsehood and it is based on discrimination and it is based on hatred and it is dangerous. What right do people have to say to others that they are wrong? What right do they have to say to them that they are inferior—that they are immoral?I think of the journey that this House and this country has taken in a very short period of time. The civil union bill in 2004 passed 65 votes to 55—and we all remember how controversial that was at the time to allow people to enter into a legal arrangement. Then in 2013 the marriage equality bill passed 77 to 44.Hon Member: The skies are falling!KIERAN McANULTY: That's right we were told all sorts of things would happen. None of them have come true. Now in 2020 we've got an opportunity as a House all 121 of us to say: this is wrong; there is no place for this nonsense in our country; that there is absolutely nothing wrong with someone's sexual identity sexual orientation or gender expression. If it's theirs it's theirs alone and you have no place to say otherwise. That's what we've got an opportunity to do as a House tonight.I say to the seven that have voted against it at the second reading: you've got a chance to change your mind; you've got a chance to do right. Think of all the people since 2004 that have changed their opinion on civil unions on marriage equality. We've seen members in valedictory speeches apologise to their sons because they made the wrong call at the time. Five of the seven that voted against this bill also voted against marriage equality. Tonight is your chance to make that right because we as a society can stand proud today and say: conversion therapy has no place in New Zealand.In the small amount of time I have left in this five minutes I wish to speak to the constituents that have got in touch with me over the last few weeks encouraging me to vote no on this bill. They've done so I believe out of a sincere and genuine concern because of what they've heard from those that oppose it. They've heard that this bill will stop them having caring conversations with their children or with those members of their community perhaps in a religious group. They are misinformed. I don't believe they come at this with any hatred in their hearts; I think they come at this with fear; fear that's been stoked and stirred up by people that have not taken the time to understand the harm that conversion practices cause to individuals.I say to my constituents that are concerned about this: you do not have anything to worry about. I don't believe for a second that you believe that being gay or being trans is wrong—not for a second—and if that's where you're coming from then you should be supporting this bill because you can't change what doesn't need to be fixed. I am going to be proud to lend my vote on behalf of myself and my constituency in support of fairness and in support of love and in support of a society that accepts everybody how they come and how they're meant to be."