When you hear the phrase “conversion therapy”,
what’s the first thing you think of?
You might have an image of a camp from films
or TV, where kids are sent to “pray away the gay”.
But did you know, more often,
conversion therapy practices are actually committed by families at home
- or behind closed doors.
They don’t always look like the stereotypical image of conversion therapy,
and they’re not necessarily linked to religion.
Conversion therapy isn’t actually “therapy”,
it’s abuse.
And the unfortunate truth is, conversion therapy happens in the UK
- and even worse, it’s still legal.
Imagine the outrage if people across the country were subjecting their straight relatives to abuse,
with the aim of them ignoring or betraying their heterosexual orientation and cisgender identity.
Almost 1 in 5 LGBT+ people in the UK have experienced someone trying to change, “cure”
or suppress their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Take Joe. Growing up, Joe experienced anti-LGBT+ abuse at the hands of his parents,
who didn’t want him to be gay. Joe’s parents monitored and controlled his finances,
clothing, communications and everyday movements.
Despite asking the police for help,
Joe was returned to his family home multiple times where the abuse continued.
Or take Alex.
When they were outed as non-binary, Alex’s father destroyed all of their clothes
that he thought were too ‘masculine’
and repeatedly told Alex that they were a girl.
When Alex became seriously depressed and attempted suicide,
Alex’s father told them it would be better if they were dead than non-binary.
Or Grace. When Grace’s family found out she’s a lesbian,
she was told that it needed to be ‘stamped’ out of her.
Her family forced her to see a ‘therapist’
who tried to change her sexual orientation
by convincing her that it was the result of her being sexually abused,
even though Grace knew this abuse had never happened.
Her mother also threatened to kick her out of the family home
if she didn’t go on dates with a much older man,
which was extremely scary for Grace.
No matter what form so-called “conversion therapy” takes, its effects can last a lifetime.
But with a couple of small actions, you can help to stop this abuse from happening.
You can help by writing to your MP and urging them to support an immediate ban on conversion therapy.
And asking that the ban covers the whole LGBT+ community, with no loopholes.
Together, we can help to protect LGBT+ people from this kind of abuse.
If you think you or someone you know is experiencing conversion therapy,
Galop, the UK’s leading LGBT+ anti-abuse charity,
is here for any LGBT+ person who has experienced abuse and violence.
You don’t have to be sure of what’s happening to get in touch with Galop for help and support.
You can visit their website at galop.org.uk,
call the National Conversion Therapy helpline at: 0800 999 5428
or email help@galop.org.uk
Thanks.