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Sex Matters: ban on 'conversion therapy' bill isn't what people think!

56 replies

zafferana · 15/11/2021 08:02

I thought this bill on conversion therapy was about banning gay conversion therapies, but it's not, because those are already illegal. It's about banning doctors from questioning trans teens about the nature of their gender dysphoria - in other words making sure that they unquestioningly 'affirm' those seeking puberty blocking drugs and other interventions, in other words not trying to 'convert' them to their original gender. THIS LAW IS BEING PROPOSED BY STONEWALL, MERMAIDS, and others.

Sex Matters is asking constituents to write to their MPs and pressure the government to allow time for the proper consultation, rather than rushing this legislation through, which is apparently the current intention.

Link to Sex Matters website, which has a proforma email ready to go - all you have to do is fill in your and your MP's information: sex-matters.org/posts/sex/press-pause-on-conversion-therapy-law/

OP posts:
hoodathunkit · 15/11/2021 10:49

I'm very, very puched for time, as usual, but would like to share some links for further research

Please accept my apologies if readers are already aware of these capainging organisations

ttps://web.archive.org/web/20200710142803/www.banconversiontherapy.com/about

<a class="break-all" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20200715132151/www.banconversiontherapy.com/resources" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">web.archive.org/web/20200715132151/www.banconversiontherapy.com/resources

Conversion therapies and access to transition-related healthcare in transgender people: a narrative systematic review

<a class="break-all" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20200810204244/bmjopen.bmj.com/content/8/12/e022425" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">web.archive.org/web/20200810204244/bmjopen.bmj.com/content/8/12/e022425

<a class="break-all" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20210716061034/www.ozanne.foundation/faith-sexuality-survey-2018/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">web.archive.org/web/20210716061034/www.ozanne.foundation/faith-sexuality-survey-2018/

FWIW I loathe the idea of concersion therapy, however the activist movement against it has been astroturfed by forces who do not have the interests of minorities at heart. IMO

Anyone seeking to dig deeper would be advised to research the activities of the following organisations;

Psychotherapists and Counsellors for Social Responsibility
The Psychotherapy and Counselling Union
various other mental health activist organisations linked to the above

Shedbuilder · 15/11/2021 10:36

Yes, anyone responding to this consultation needs to be really clear about distinguishing between old-fashioned LGB conversion therapy and the new definition of transgender conversion therapy. They are not the same. Saying you support a ban will mean that therapists, faced with a troubled teen who thinks they are transgender, won't be allowed to say anything but 'If you think you're transgender then you aren transgender.' Keira Bell and Sinead Watson are detransitioners calling for therapists to be allowed to discuss and question widely. They both say that transitioning was too easy, that they should have been asked about all the other stuff that they were having to deal with and not just waved on board the transition train.

Sex Matters and Transgender Trend have guides on how to fill the consultation in.

JoanOgden · 15/11/2021 10:25

It is about banning gay conversion therapy too - only physical abuse as part of gay conversion therapy is currently illegal, AIUI.

However, the consultation doesn't seem to consider that sometimes gender-affirmation therapy can also be gay conversion therapy... the whole thing is a mess.

Bearsinmotion · 15/11/2021 10:22

I tried to fill in the consultation but found it too convoluted so have done this instead, thank you!

Bellendejour · 15/11/2021 09:44

I’ve done this thanks so much for sharing the link.

I also filled out the Government Consultation form in the best way I could but found it quite difficult/confusing.

I hope this makes a difference.

malanimo · 15/11/2021 09:31

There's also a guide to responding to the consultation here: www.transgendertrend.com/guide-government-conversion-therapy-consultation/