Thread by @JamesEsses

Thread Warning - Therapeutic Concerns with the Conversion Therapy Ban

1. The term conversion ‘therapy’ is a misnomer. Even @DrAdamJowett acknowledged it’s “highly misleading”. The vast majority of practices occur in religious/family settings. Yet, they continue to use this term.

2. We cannot even agree on basic definitions of ‘man’, ‘woman’, ‘sex’ or ‘gender’. Poorly worded legislation is a major risk. To include “suppress gender identity” risks outlawing ethical therapeutic practices including pausing for reflection and considering contributing factors.

3. The government consultation is being rushed through in 6 weeks, even though 12 weeks is the normal expectation and status quo. Why is this happening with such a complex and sensitive subject? We must not forget that @stonewalluk called for no consultation whatsoever.

4. The government consultation makes almost no reference to “gender dysphoria”, which is a mental health condition one must be diagnosed with in order to legally or medically transition.

Why are gender dysphoria and sexual orientation being conflated in the same legislation?

5. The consultation seemingly protects explorative therapy only for those “questioning” their gender. This is dangerous. Children can be convinced of many things for many reasons and that is all the more reason that time should be taken to explore the options and risks with them.

6. Detransitioners have been marginalised. The government consultation makes almost no reference to them. The fact that there are a large and increasing number of people regretting irreversible damage done to them by medical/surgical transitioning requires crucial exploration.

7. The research is flawed. The most cited source is the GEO 2018 LGBT survey. It was a non-random, online self-report survey conducted without any reference to time frames and by its own admission cannot be generalised to the wider LGBT population.

8. Therapists should never have a pre-determined outcome. Those practicing an affirmation-only approach to gender identity are doing exactly that. This approach should be prohibited under legislation, especially as the vast majority of children settle into their biological sex.

9. Therapists, home and abroad, speak of the chilling effect of legislation. Many will simply refuse to work with those with gender dysphoria, for fear of being falsely accused and criminalised. This is neither in the interests of therapists or the clients they seek to serve.

10. The LGB community raise concerns that affirmative therapy may be a form of gay conversion therapy. The majority of people with gender dysphoria come out as gay. Anecdotally, there are reports of cultures in which it is preferable to be ‘trapped in the wrong body’ than gay.

Those who tell us that we are ‘scaremongering’ and there is nothing to worry about ignore the above.

Legislation must safeguard explorative therapy for those with gender dysphoria, particularly children. The stakes are far too high. #FirstDoNoHarm