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Original poster

King's Speech: gender identity conversion therapy

64 replies

southbiscay · 16/07/2024 15:14

Apparently Labour are going to commit to a ban on gender identity conversion therapy in this years's legislative program. I think this is very bad news for all the reasons long rehearsed on this site. However I am sceptical that it will make much progress; it is such a flawed concept that surely it is going to be hard to write coherent legislation. With Hillary Cass in the Lords it will also be interesting to listen to that debate when it occurs. Maybe I'm being over optimistic, but I can't help feeling there's many a slip ...

OP posts:
duc748 · 16/07/2024 16:45

Is it even possible to legislate sensibly on this? Or to try to ban 'bad' therapy, and allow 'good' therapy? Where what's good and bad may be hotly disputed? Judging by the drafting of some recent laws, it's hard to be optimistic.

Chersfrozenface · 16/07/2024 16:44

WallaceinAnderland · 16/07/2024 16:31

I think I read somewhere that they will ban conversion therapy but allow talking therapy.

There will have to definitions of each in the bill, then.

kiterunning · 16/07/2024 16:42

WallaceinAnderland · 16/07/2024 16:31

I think I read somewhere that they will ban conversion therapy but allow talking therapy.

That would make sense

WallaceinAnderland · 16/07/2024 16:31

I think I read somewhere that they will ban conversion therapy but allow talking therapy.

ScrollingLeaves · 16/07/2024 16:30

Crouton19 · 16/07/2024 16:12

Will it protect against conversation from c*s to trans, ie kids being told by teachers, charities and well-meaning adults that they must be trans because they hate their bodies?

They would need to have the legislation define conversion therapy as including making a gay person think they are trans; and include making an ordinary person ( including those who are autistic, or traumatised) think they are trans.

But in practice , there would be a whole combination of people making a gay person, or anyone think they are trans - a homophobic family or milieu, teachers including ‘gender identity’ at school, peer pressure on the internet. None of which could be pinned down.

I presume that under current thinking a gender psychologist simply affirming a patient who is saying they are trans could not be accused of practising conversion therapy.

So maybe the law needs to say that all psychologists ‘must’ treat trans-presenting patients in depth and in an exploratory manner, over a long enough period, or else they are guilty of the crime of giving conversion therapy.

kiterunning · 16/07/2024 16:29

So lesbians / gay men can't be told they must be trans?

Floisme · 16/07/2024 16:24

Given the size government's majority I'm not convinced that the quality of either the drafting or the parliamentary debate will count for much.

But I hope your optimism proves to be correct op.

Crouton19 · 16/07/2024 16:12

Will it protect against conversation from c*s to trans, ie kids being told by teachers, charities and well-meaning adults that they must be trans because they hate their bodies?

RedToothBrush · 16/07/2024 15:47

It'll be challenged in court by gay rights activists.

Runor · 16/07/2024 15:44

So we’re going with a strategy of “yes you’re obviously trans, but no we won’t ‘treat’ you and all the interactions you have on the internet will tell you this will lead to your suicide”

Well, what could possibly go wrong?

Original poster
southbiscay · 16/07/2024 15:40

They are struggling with the drafting in Ireland: www.irishtimes.com/ireland/social-affairs/2024/07/12/legislation-banning-conversion-therapy-unlikely-in-governments-lifetime/

OP posts:
lifeturnsonadime · 16/07/2024 15:30

I have been pleasantly surprised by Wes Streeting’s stance on puberty blockers but I’m concerned that a ban on so-called conversion therapy will leave the children who have sold a lie with no appropriate mental heath support. If therapists are too afraid to discuss anything that is not 100% affirmative then these children are going to be massively let down, at a time they most need support and I sincerely hope that doesn’t happen.

We’ll see.

WallaceinAnderland · 16/07/2024 15:24

Labour will say anything just to consider that box ticked.

SquirrelSoShiny · 16/07/2024 15:18

I hope your optimism is deserved but Labour need to throw some kind of bone to the rabid mob on Twitter post pb ban extension. I'm worried it's going to be this.

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