What Is Conversion Therapy? UK’s Plan To Ban
Conversion therapy is a controversial and harmful practice aimed at changing a person’s gender identity or sexual orientation. Neither scientifically valid nor rooted in legitimate therapeutic practices, conversion therapy seeks to suppress or erase a person’s authentic self. In the UK and across the globe, there is a growing demand to ban conversion practices.
Below, explore the impacts of conversion therapy, its lack of scientific backing, and the significance of addressing these practices through legislation. In addition, learn about the UK’s progress toward banning this harmful practice and the importance of inclusivity and equality.
What defines gender?
Historically, the concept of gender is one that has been heavily scrutinized. For many individuals, the idea of gender identity has been relegated to two categories: male or female. However, in recent years activists, legislators, and individuals have challenged this outdated and oppressive idea.
Unlike sex, which refers to biological characteristics, gender is influenced by cultural, societal, and personal factors. Gender is a complex concept that encompasses socially constructed roles, behaviors, expressions, and identities associated with men, women, and gender-diverse individuals. For some, gender aligns with the sex they were assigned at birth. For others, it does not.
Gender identity refers to a deeply personal sense of one’s own gender. Gender may align with traditional categories of male or female or exist beyond these binaries. Some individuals may reject the concept of gender entirely. Additionally, gender identity may change or evolve over time, especially as individuals grow, learn, and embrace their unique selves.
Sexual orientation or gender identity
Sexual orientation and gender identity are two distinct concepts that are often conflated, especially in the context of harmful practices like conversion therapy. Though sexual orientation and gender identity can overlap in some regards, they are separate and deeply personal aspects of one’s personality that each deserves respect and recognition. Understanding these distinctions can foster empathy, respect, and acceptance of marginalized communities.
Understanding gender identity
Gender identity is a concept independent of biological sex. Instead, it’s about how a person perceives and experiences their gender. For instance, transgender individuals may find their gender does not align with their assigned sex at birth. Others, such as those who identify as non-binary or genderfluid, may reject traditional gender categories entirely. Outward manifestations of gender identity can include clothing, speech, and behavior. However, one’s gender expression doesn’t always reflect a person’s internal identity. Many individuals experience pressure to conform to gender stereotypes.
Though outdated and limiting, gender stereotypes have long been formed by cultural and societal standards. These stereotypes can have adverse effects on authentic expressions of gender identity. For example, someone assigned female at birth may experience pressure to wear dresses or makeup, even though it isn’t comfortable or authentic to their personality.
Understanding sexual orientation
Sexual orientation is distinct from gender identity, even though the two are often discussed together. Sexual orientation pertains to the enduring pattern of romantic, emotional, or sexual attraction a person experiences toward others, while gender identity focuses on a person’s internal understanding of their own gender.
This aspect of identity encompasses a diverse spectrum of orientations, including but not limited to lesbian, gay, bisexual, asexual, pansexual, and queer. Like gender identity, sexual orientation is deeply personal and can vary greatly among individuals, with some experiencing fluidity in their attractions over time.
Understanding sexual orientation can involve acknowledging it exists within a broader social and cultural context. Societal norms and expectations have often stigmatized or invalidated specific orientations, contributing to the harmful ideas that have led to practices like conversion therapy.
The importance of gender equality and acceptance
Discrimination based on a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity not only harms individuals but also perpetuates systemic inequalities that hinder societal progress. Promoting gender diversity and acceptance is vital for building an inclusive society and abolishing conversion therapy practices in the UK and worldwide.
The effects of discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender
What is conversion therapy?
Conversion therapy refers to any practice or intervention that aims to change someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity. These harmful practices are often targeted at individuals experiencing what others perceive to be “unwanted same-sex attraction.” So-called conversion therapy practices often involve pseudo-scientific counseling, aversion therapy, or other extreme methods like physical or sexual assault. The ultimate goal of this type of therapy is to suppress or erase an individual’s authentic self, forcing them to conform to heteronormative or cis-normative standards.
Conversion therapy is not a legitimate form of medical or psychological treatment. Instead, it’s a harmful practice rooted in prejudice and ignorance. The term “therapy” is misleading, as these practices have no scientific basis or therapeutic benefit.
The harmful effects of conversion therapy
Conversion therapy is not only ineffective but also profoundly damaging. In some cases referred to as “gay cure therapy,” the mental, emotional, and physical toll this modality takes on individuals can have lifelong consequences.
How conversion therapy affects mental health
Individuals who have undergone conversion therapy often report feelings of shame, self-hatred, and hopelessness. According to a National LGBT survey, these practices exacerbate mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. The trauma inflicted by conversion therapy can lead to long-term psychological scars, eroding a person’s self-worth and trust in others.
Moreover, conversion therapy perpetuates societal stigma and discrimination, reinforcing the idea that being LGBTQIA+ is to be fixed or cured. This harmful narrative can isolate individuals from their communities and prevent them from seeking support.
Banning conversion therapy in the UK
While many reputable medical and psychological organizations have condemned conversion therapy practices, they remain legal in the UK. However, a growing movement seeks to change this law. Efforts to ban conversion therapy in the UK are gaining momentum, with advocates pushing for comprehensive legislation to protect LGBTQIA+ individuals.
The proposed ban aims to outlaw all forms of conversion therapy, ensuring that individuals are not subjected to these harmful practices. Laws would include banning sexual orientation change efforts, gender identity change efforts, and any other forms of reparative therapy. By enacting such a ban, the UK would join a growing list of countries committed to protecting LGBTQIA+ rights and mental health.
LGBTQIA+ resources in the UK
Several organizations in the UK provide resources, support, and advocacy for LGBTQIA+ individuals facing or recovering from harmful conversion therapy practices. These include Stonewall, Mermaids, and Gendered Intelligence, among others. These organizations offer counseling, educational programs, and community-building initiatives to promote acceptance and understanding.
Mental health support options
For individuals grappling with the effects of discrimination or the trauma of conversion therapy, seeking therapy from a professional therapist can be life-changing. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and other methods may help clients rebuild self-esteem, foster resilience, and find healing.
Those who face a lack of access to mental healthcare support may benefit from online therapy through a platform like BetterHelp. A questionnaire at sign-up allows platforms to match you with a therapist who fits your specific needs in as little as 48 hours. Additionally, if your therapist isn’t the right fit for any reason, you can switch therapists anytime at no extra charge. According to a study by the University of York, virtual or online therapy delivers the same quality of care as its in-person counterpart.
Takeaway
Frequently asked questions
What measures have been taken to end conversion therapy around the world?
Many countries have taken action to ban conversion therapy based on religious beliefs or outdated laws. Countries like Brazil and Ecuador have banned conversion therapists from practicing nationwide. In contrast, countries like the US and Spain have placed nationwide restrictions but have not entirely banned conversion talking therapies, especially in the realm of efforts from religious groups to change same-sex attraction or “cure” gender dysphoria. Conversion therapy might still be practiced in some areas in the UK, especially under different names, such as in the religious community or certain faith organisations.
Who undergoes conversion therapy, and why?
Often, people are offered conversion therapy by family members or religious leaders, often under a different name. For example, some spiritual interventions might advertise themselves as a way to “change homosexual feelings” or “change sexual orientation.” Such practices are often advertised as positive interventions alongside spiritual sermons or speeches condemning same-sex sexual attraction. For this reason, some people might enter voluntarily into conversion therapy through a religious provider, believing they will be shunned or harmed by their community if they don’t.
Since many religious communities are close-knit, losing religious support can also cause people to fear losing their entire family, friends, and loved ones. Those in their community may convince them that such practices work and can change them. However, when conversion therapy practices inevitably fail, many people are left with religious childhood trauma and mental health challenges. LGB and trans respondents of surveys who have previously undergone conversion therapy often report more suicide attempts and worsened mental health. No ethical mental healthcare professionals with the British Psychological Society or medical professionals practice conversion therapy in the UK.
What is the background of conversion therapy in the UK?
The UK government has been making efforts to ban conversion therapy nationwide since 2021, with restrictions being upheld by the government. The UK government reports that no widespread studies have been done on who gets conversion therapy in the UK and how it has previously worked. However, conservative religious members are most likely to have undergone this type of “treatment.”
How are trauma and conversion therapy linked?
People who have undergone some form of “treatment” aimed at changing their sexual orientation or gender identity are more likely to experience a trauma disorder like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In addition, they are at a higher risk of suicide, depression, anxiety, and chronic pain.
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