Thread by @ThoughtfulTs

1/ petition.parliament.uk/petitions/5820…
At first glance it may appear strange that we, a group of therapists, are against the governments current plans to make conversion therapy illegal in the UK.

2/ Have no doubts, we think that everyone should be free to live their lives as they wish. People must feel safe at home, on the streets, online, and - particularly important for us - with their therapists.

3/ However, the government’s current plans are based on a flawed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), a document that has been hastily signed by 20 health, counselling and psychotherapy organisations in the UK bacp.co.uk/events-and-res…

4/ In March 2020 the government stated ‘Conversion therapy is a very complex issue. There are a wide range of practices which may fall within its scope and we want to ensure we have a thorough understanding of the situation in the UK to inform an effective approach.

5/ Before any decision is made on proposals for ending conversion therapy we must understand the problem, the range of options available and the impact they would have.’
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/3009…

6/ We do not feel that these conditions have been met. We think that the government is currently relying too heavily on the flawed MoU.
acc-uk.org/public/docs/pa…

7/ The MoU in its current form conflates sexuality with gender identity. The experience of being LGB and T may have overlaps but they are not the same experience.

8/ There is no risk in affirming someone’s sexual identity. There can be significant lifelong consequences of affirming a gender identity if, as it often does, that affirmation leads to medical treatment.

9/ It is clear that gender affirming treatments don’t help everyone in the long run persuasion.community/p/keira-bell-m…

10/ Some of you will say ‘only a minority will detransition’ - we say *every* patient matters.

11/ Gender affirming medicine doesn’t have a robust evidence base. E.g. google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.… We can’t know who will be helped and who will be harmed. If we discuss the potential for risks and benefits with our clients is this conversion therapy?

12/ The MoU doesn’t make a clear enough distinction between working with children and adults. Children’s gender identity can change over time. researchgate.net/publication/33…

13/ We don’t yet know why there has been over a 5000% increase in natal girls attending gender clinics - in less than a decade. researchgate.net/publication/27…

14/ If we encourage a child or adolescent to explore or wait before seeking medical input, will we be accused of conversion therapy?

15/ We are left with so many questions - what exactly constitutes conversion therapy for gender identity? Who defines what is conversion therapy for gender identity?

16/ Colleagues are telling us that they are too afraid to work with gender questioning clients. This can’t be the government’s intention.

17/ This is too important to get wrong. As therapists we need to be able to do our jobs providing neutral, explorative and supportive care. Ironically this law could make our jobs harder and put vulnerable clients and patients at greater risk.

18/ Please share our petition to raise awareness of these issues. We hope the government will pause and make time to think. More nuanced conversations need to take place before anything becomes law. petition.parliament.uk/petitions/5820…