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

[zafferana]

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/

bump

Another bump. Need as many people as possible to engage with this

The deadline for the consultation is 10th December.

Me too.

10 DAYS TO GO

"you might think that i would support
this ban but i don't
i strongly oppose it
it does not do what it says on the tin
in fact it will do the opposite
it will lead to more medical conversion
of young gay lesbian and bisexual people"

LGBAlliance have just shared their submission, very useful if you haven't done yet.
lgballiance.org.uk/2021/11/30/lgb-alliances-response-to-the-government-consultation-on-banning-conversion-therapy/

I emailed my MP
He's replied, a long 'standard' reply
It says (in summary) 'yes conv. ther. Is very bad, should be outlawed etc etc'
So he's not read my clearly and simply worded email. At all. Because I said the reverse.

So I'm now logged as another 'supporter'

This is such a problem, the MPs are not listening to us

So I'm now logged as another 'supporter'

this is extremely troubling.

[quote Imnobody4]LGBAlliance have just shared their submission, very useful if you haven't done yet.
lgballiance.org.uk/2021/11/30/lgb-alliances-response-to-the-government-consultation-on-banning-conversion-therapy/[/quote]
This is excellent and I agree very useful to borrow from in our own responses to MPs and the consultation

findthetruth I'm now asking to see him (my MP). Others have had the same reply, not reading our emails. So we are now ALL logged as supporters.

This issue is SO difficult to explain.

I don't like the lgba response (above) at all, too much 'yes we like it but...'
I think we need to be clearer, and say no, this whole bill is a load of tosh

@zafferana Yes - exactly this. And consultation limited to just 6 weeks - ending December 10th.

Therapists and psychologists already feel hampered to affirm and not be able to look for co-morbidities, due to pressure, let alone making it potentially illegal, ffs!!

Have emailed MP with my own concerns and commented on this

We need bullet-proof safeguarding of under 18s in this bill.

Baroness Nicholson?
childrenandwomenfirst.org/

She's also on twitter. There needs to be a Twitter storm about it

Sorry - should clarify that I’m focussed on the trans-capturing of our kids and ROGD, and ‘normalisation’ of the medicalisation and surgery to very young people.

The LGB Alliance response is excellent

Is anyone still under the impression that the current government doesn't support self ID?

I have had a reply from my MP, and it looks like he has read the briefing paper. He said he is very concerned about the type of conversion therapy outlined in the paper, and that he shares my views on gender identity and trans matters

@oldwomanwhoruns

findthetruth I'm now asking to see him (my MP). Others have had the same reply, not reading our emails. So we are now ALL logged as supporters.

This issue is SO difficult to explain.

I don't like the lgba response (above) at all, too much 'yes we like it but...'
I think we need to be clearer, and say no, this whole bill is a load of tosh

Good luck with your meeting. please tell us what happens.

😲😲😲absolutely outrageous that you and others have been logged as supporters. it's almost like a bizarre reflection of the bill itself pretending to be the opposite of what it is.

if only your MP could talk to @eleanorwish MP

www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-10273719/Transwoman-DEBBIE-HAYTON-gives-view-new-Government-bill.html

Thread with link to todays piece by Janet Turner

Janice Turner on Conversion Therapy Ban www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/4417704-Janice-Turner-on-Conversion-Therapy-Ban

I noticed an article in the Economist also, but not a subscriber so only got to see first short bit which suggested bill being pushed through in time for big trans conference in London next summer?

This is an excellent response!

twitter.com/Jebadoo2/status/1466844415847239684

Gay Men UK Consultation Response 031221.pdf

(unfortunately the link from twitter isn't great. confusingly it takes you to 'WeTransfer' but if you click 'download' it should open)

Sex Matters Response

twitter.com/SexMattersOrg/status/1467174364500140037

and

"Sex Matters response to the Banning Conversion Therapy Consultation"

sex-matters.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Sex-Matters-conversion-therapy-response.docx-1.pdf

See also:

twitter.com/MForstater/status/1467177235027304451

Important note from
@/SexMattersOrg

It's not obvious from gov's online form but the Q on your views on conversion therapy is not listed as one of the consultation questions on the policy proposal.

www.gov.uk/government/consultations/banning-conversion-therapy/annex-a-consultation-questions

See screenshot