Conversion therapy: letter to The Times today

[TheFleegleHasLanded]

Signed by almost all the grassroots women’s groups and eminent individuals. The Prime Minister should be talking to these people not those who are happy to ‘trans the gay away’.
www.thetimes.co.uk/article/7e1c65e8-8360-11eb-8dc5-6a6f238d9d27?shareToken=91e9436beee370067741e4ebf3b8ff57

In case anyone can’t get access:
“TRANS CONTROVERSY
Sir, On March 8 we heard a series of MPs say that they oppose conversion therapy. We all do — as long as we agree on what it means. No one mentioned the most glaring example: gender non-conforming young people, especially girls, being converted from lesbian, gay or bisexual to “trans”. Many girls think they’re boys, and vice-versa, because they’re being taught that everyone has a gender identity that may differ from their sex. They hear from online forums that they may be “trans” and that it’s fine to block puberty, take hormones and have surgery. This is conversion therapy in 2021 — it is just a reworking of ugly homophobia.

We ask the government to study the evidence, including the findings of the upcoming Cass inquiry. Support is needed for gender non-conforming children, who are now getting the impression that the answer to their problems is a lifetime of medication.”

Some good letters about women's safety there too.

I have been talking to DH about all this for some time, and he's been shrugging his shoulders and just not being very interested.
This letter really hit home for him. It's like the scales have fallen from his eyes. I'm relieved that discussion is finally becoming mainstream.

It's a cracking letter. I was interested to see the wide range of signatories too.

Authentic Equity Alliance; Conservatives for Women; Fair Play for Women; Labour Women’s Declaration; Lesbian Labour; LGB Alliance; LGB Alliance Cymru; LGB Alliance Scotland; Merched Cymru; Sex Matters; Transgender Trend; Women Uniting; Allison Bailey, barrister; Josephine Bartosch, journalist; Dr David Bell, psychiatrist, former president of the British Psychoanalytic Society; Jonny Best, musician; Dr Michael Biggs, associate professor of sociology, university of Oxford; Dr Heather Brunskell-Evans, philosopher and Foucault scholar; Jo Campbell, concerned lesbian of Manchester; Maureen Chadwick, writer; Simon Edge, novelist; Maya Forstater, founder, Sex Matters; Eileen Gallagher OBE, writer & producer; Kath Gotts, composer & lyricist; Dr Az Hakeem, consultant psychiatrist; Dr Debbie Hayton, physics teacher; Rob Jessel, journalist; Dr Madeleine Jowett, university lecturer; Dr Tessa Katz, GP; Kellie-Jay Keen, Standing for Women; Graham Linehan, writer; Ann McManus, writer; Tish Naughton, blogger; Jessica Silverstone; Caroline Spry, film producer; Dr Kathleen Stock OBE, professor of philosophy; Robert Wintemute, professor of human rights law; Miranda Yardley, human rights activist

This is such an important letter - Tavistock staff and ex-staff have repeatedly mentioned the extent to which homophobia / lesphobia drives young GNC people towards identifying as trans. The bill could end up causing real harm, and making professionals nervous about anything other than affirmation.

Yesterday was Detransitioners Day - those stories were moving and compelling. Unquestioning affirmation is clearly a significant problem.

So pleased to see this impressive list of signatures - and extra pleased to see Wales represented by two groups - LGB Alliance Cymru and Merched Cymru. We certainly need their support in Wales.