Taiwan’s Ministry of Health and Welfare has published draft regulation to ban ‘gay cure’ therapy.

The regulation will outlaw the use of the torture known as ‘conversion therapy’, widely considered harmful by international health organizations as dangerous to a person’s mental and physical health.

The government is consulting with the public for 30 days, and after that period, will consider on whether to ban the practice.

It is hoped the ban on ‘gay cure’ therapy will be added as an amendment to the Physicians Act, which would fine and/or suspend medical professionals who engage in banned treatments.

It comes as Taiwan passed draft legislation offering same-sex couples the right to get married and adopt children.

The ruling Democratic Progressive Party have suggested the amendments, and is being supported by President Tsai Ing-wen. She was sworn in last May.

‘Last year on Facebook I said: “In love, everyone is equal. I am Tsai Ing-wen, I support marriage equality,”‘ she posted on her Facebook page.

A poll last year found 71% of Taiwanese people supported same-sex marriage.

If Taiwan bans ‘gay cure’ therapy, it will join Malta who banned the practice last year. Malta is the first country in Europe to ban conversion therapy.

The ‘gay cure’ ban, which was agreed to by every single parliamentary official in Malta, will see any person who attempts to change, repress or eliminate or person’s sexual orientation receive a fine ranging from €1,000 to €5,000 ($1,080 to $5,400) or a jail term of five months.