Government provides support for those who have been victims of conversion therapy

[OhHolyJesus]

Press release here:

The support service will help anyone who has been through, is at risk of, or is going through, conversion therapy
It is the first government-funded service of its kind in the world
Galop is the nation’s leading anti-violence LGBT charity
Today (Friday May 13) the Minister for Equalities, Mike Freer, has announced that Galop has been selected to deliver a first of its kind, Government-funded support service for victims of conversion therapy.

Anyone who considers themselves as having gone through, or being at risk of, LGBT conversion therapy will be able to use the service, which will be accessed via phone or online.

Once users make contact via a helpline, they will be provided with initial pastoral support, information, and tailored advice.

This new funding comes as the Government continues to prioritise public safety and strengthening the rights of victims.

Galop already works with the Home Office to deliver its LGBT domestic abuse helpline. They will bring their experience in providing understanding, support and guidance to LGBT victims of abuse and violence to delivering this vitally important service for LGBT people.

Minister for Equalities, Mike Freer, said:
“Conversion therapy blights people’s lives, and it will never achieve its intended outcomes.

“This practice has no place in modern society and we are taking action to ensure it is banned in the UK.

“We have chosen Galop to deliver this new service as they can draw on their significant expertise to deliver a successful service that provides victims of conversion therapy with effective and compassionate support.”

Leni Morris, Galop CEO, said:
“For the past 40 years, Galop has been serving the needs of the LGBT+ community, and providing victims of abuse and violence with somewhere to turn.

“We have been working with victims and survivors of so-called “conversion therapy” for many years, and we see the long-term, even life-long, effects this type of abuse can have. The people we work with often face significant barriers in finding information and seeking support when they are subjected to this kind of abuse, and we are glad to be able to use this funding to extend and expand the information and support available to all victims of conversion practices in the UK.

“The National Conversion Therapy Helpline is a vital lifeline for our community, and we are pleased it will continue to be here for all LGBT+ people who need it.”

The announcement is part of the Government’s mission to keep everyone across the UK safe, and it comes as the Queen’s Speech set out the intention to ban conversion therapy.

Galop was appointed after a competitive open tender process. Their existing Conversion Therapy Victim Support helpline will continue to operate, whilst Government funding is used to develop an instant messenger chat function and online centre of expertise about the damage caused by conversion therapy and how best to support those going through it.

I’ll be interested to see how well they meet the needs of detransitioners.

How many people actually undergo 'conversion therapy' in the U.K.?

My thoughts exactly Tabby, Detransitioners and trans widows being converted from their sexual orientation, both are groups that are ignored and both deserve support for the conversion therapy they have suffered.

It will be interesting, given the provider, as to how these groups are supported and if they feature in their reports.

I think it was less than 2% in the government survey which didn’t define the term, and within that number it didn’t say if it what that referred to as in ‘corrective’ rape (not a term I like to use but you get my point) or a talk with a therapist who didn’t immediately affirm.

The research referred to in the consultation was very weak but if this new service offers something real and effective for Detransitioners then this would be progress. It could be lip service of course.

Surely this a good thing? Why would you not want someone who had been traumatised via conversion therapy to be able to get help?

I hope the monitoring for this is done with precision, and in line with the protected characteristics in the Equality Act. If not then there's a risk of a muddle of data, which means we won't know if, for example, a FtM person was being pushed into social and medical transition, when in fact that person is a lesbian and her parents didn't want a gay child. It has to be coherent.

Can someone define conversion therapy for me? As far as I am aware even talking to a counsellor who doesn't do immediate affirmation could be considered conversion (which is stupid).

Surely this a good thing? Why would you not want someone who had been traumatised via conversion therapy to be able to get help?

Did anyone say it’s a bad thing? Though I’m sceptical of it being an effective use of funds, as conversion therapy is very rare in the UK, and afaik there’s no research confirming that this is needed.

But if they do cater to detransitioners that concern is answered - they are growing in numbers all the time and anecdotally often have trouble accessing help and support.

I hope this service both serves detransitioners and keeps accurate statistics. I’m pessimistic though. Anyone know anything about Galop?

I think detransitioners would have very specific needs that I hope would be catered for. Either under this scheme or another that can focus on their specific needs.

Probably not many, that's why the statistics used are surveys which overstate the amount (just like the 97% of 25 women say this face cream works).

Interesting that a former editor of Attitude magazine said that conversion therapy wasn't on any radar about 5 years ago, particularly as the magazine focused on gay men, not LGBT+.

I'm wondering whether this would also be appropriate for parents of children who have transitioned and the parent has to convert their own lived experiences of conceiving, having and raising a child of the opposite sex.

Surely the conversion of parents to gender ideology against their will should be banned also? For example, I had a daughter. If I was under pressure to say that I had a son, would that not be conversion therapy?

If you google some of the people involved I would not be optimistic of it supporting detransitioners. They will not see encouraging transition as conversion therapy, even though it can be just that.

As a lesbian can I have some support with the endless scolding and harassment and awful things said to me (including here on multiple occasions) by those who insist I may not choose to exclude male people from my body and must 'learn to cope' and 'overcome my prejudices' to provide a social service by tolerating unwanted sex with them?

Because if they're collecting stats on what actual conversion therapy looks like I am really up for helping them out with that. Being old enough and ugly enough and having lived through the years of actual homophobia before it was reinvented for a new and shiny era, my answer is a resounding fuck off with more amusement than distress, I don't obey peculiar views from strangers in my sexuality. But I'd hate for the govt to think it isn't happening and doesn't matter.

For all the talk about "supporting detransitioners", I would just like to point out that the budget for this will have presumably been on the basis of an expected number of potential "victims of conversion therapy" - ie nearly zero.

This is a headline thing with no actual significant utility, or significant funding.

If you're expecting a service for the actual real population of detransitioners, the uptake would be considerably higher, and need more of a budget.

I’m with Necessary on this, I’m sceptical.

It really could be significant if Detransitioners were able to access the very specific type of support they need. I don’t think Galop are suitable providers, not even close, but if this service is to be measured and assessed by the GEO as to whether the government funding provides value for money then this could be key:

“Galop was appointed after a competitive open tender process. Their existing Conversion Therapy Victim Support helpline will continue to operate, whilst Government funding is used to develop an instant messenger chat function and online centre of expertise about the damage caused by conversion therapy and how best to support those going through it.”

Its funding an improvement to an existing service, but if that service gathers data on the ‘conversion’ of people with trans identities (if they are coerced into not having a trans identity) then this will show provide new numbers on the level of ‘conversion therapy’ and what this is defined as. Something lacking until now. It could be an attempt to measure impact for a future attempt to get the ‘trans inclusive conversion therapy’ Bill through.

It would be interesting if the existing service was open to supporting and gathering data on those who do not have a trans identity, who were coerced into thinking they did, and that is equally ‘converting’ someone into something they are not - but it’s for LGB and the T, not Detransitioners.

Once this service is up and running anyone can try the online service. Then if it doesnt meet your needs complain to the Minister for Equalities, Mike Freer - or email his department now, ask if it covers you and if not why not.

I don't know enough about this but anecdotally, anything close to conversion therapy I've ever come across has been carried out by religious organisations. But what is also carried by the same organisations is supposed cures for conditions like autism and other special needs. Whilst I agree that support should be available for gay victims, I find it weird that others are completely overlooked. In fact, the source of these dangerous practices isn't really being investigated at all by sound of it?