Conversion Therapy

[elferian]

Lookig for advice;am drafting a letter to a LGB politician I know well on coversion therapy. They are proposing legislation in ireland and i want to campaign for not including the T in LGBT. Want to do it in a way that does not spark anti trans accusations. I think the message has to be something like trans conversion therapy is about helping people with dysphoria find ways to live happy lives without the damage of medical intervention and we risk loosing what is left of that kind of therapy if we lump sexuality in with gender ( yes i know gender bla bla bla but want to avoid conflating the gender critical debate ). Advice appreciated.

In order to be recognised as the gender they claim, trans-identifying people are not required to change their appearance by undergoing cosmetic surgery or taking drugs which will modify their bodies in other ways. Some trans-identifying people may never be able to do so, many will have to wait for months or years before they can access such treatments.

Including trans in any ban on conversion therapy will prevent trans-identifying people in this position from accessing any counselling or other Talking Therapy that they may need to support them during this period.

A so-called ban on conversion therapy will prevent medical practitioners from being able to carry out their job to the fullest, as it will prevent professionals from being able to discuss a variety of options with the patient.

There are a variety of reasons why someone may wish to change gender, this will prevent an analysis of those reasons.

It's worth looking at the evidence: many LGB focused groups have asked the question where is the evidence that conversion therapy is a serious and widespread issue now? Often it is the experience of LGB people in times past that is being used to drive this agenda and convince all of the urgency and terribleness of conversion therapy, but the actual desired outcome will be to block anything but full on affirmation for TQ+ people.

The experience of LGB and TQ+ people are not one uniform one here. Where is the evidence of what is happening and what is a problem now ? And the needs of TQ+ people, such as illustrated by the initial release from the Cass report, shows that some things such as counselling and work with additional needs are necessary for TQ+ people. How are those needs to be protected?

I know you are in Ireland and so would need to use the relevant legislation. I assume you use the same 9 protected characteristics in the Equality Act 2010. Use this to structure your letter.

Sex and sexual orientation are obviously sex based, so use these as headings and then you can solely focus on conversion therapy for LGB and heterosexuals, asexuals etc.

Then use gender reassignment as a heading, explaining how it differs to sex, social construct, and how conversion therapy is different/differs to sex conversion therapy.

For balance I would also add in a section on religion or belief I.e. converting people to Islam, cults etc. and how a different approach may be needed as this is predators converting people.

This way you are providing a balanced response and asking for the protected characteristics to be addressed individually in the legislation as they each need a different approach.

HTH

Sex Matters have looked at the UK conversion therapy consultation in light of the Cass Review if that helps:

sex-matters.org/posts/updates/the-cass-reviews-interim-report-is-out/