CONVERSION THERAPY IS STILL LEGAL IN MOST OF THE WORLD

Despite the fact that there is no conclusive scientific evidence to support its efficacy, conversion therapy is still legal—in some form—in most of the world. The practice, which can be defined as any attempt to change a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, is only fully illegal in Brazil, Ecuador, Germany, Malta and Taiwan, who have banned the practice outright. It’s also outlawed in parts of Australia, Canada and the US, and in other countries, it’s not permitted within medical spheres—meaning psychologists are not authorised to offer any such treatments to their patients.

 

Owing to scrutiny, conversion therapy is often masked under other terminology to avoid detection. LGBTQ+ outlet glaad.org lists some of these as services that claim to ‘promote healthy sexuality’, ‘heal sexual brokenness’, or offer ‘reparative therapy’ and ‘sexual reorientation efforts’.

 

According to UCLA Williams Institute, in the US alone, as many as 0.7 million LGBTQ+ adults have already received conversion therapy. 57 thousand young people will receive conversion therapy from religious or spiritual advisors before they reach 18, and 20 thousand will receive conversion therapy from a licensed healthcare professional before the age of 18 in the 41 states where it is not yet banned.

 

HOW TO HELP

Sign petitions

  • Demand that your government make conversion therapy illegal. This one  targets banning conversion therapy accounts on Instagram. This one aims to ban conversion therapy outright in the UK.

Donate

  • Contribute to LGBTQIA+ organisations invested in abolishing conversion therapy, or offering support for those pressured into it.

Affirmations

US-based charity striving to create an atmosphere of safety and acceptance for all people.

Black Queer & Trans Resistance

Community and activist group countering racism, transphobia and homophobia in the Netherlands.

Being Gay is OK

A UK-based information and advice website for gay, lesbian, bisexual and questioning people.

Black Visions Collective

Non-profit for Black liberation intersecting with the transgender and LGBT community.

Brave Space Alliance

The first Black-led, trans-led LGBTQ Center on the South Side of Chicago, dedicated to creating and providing affirming, culturally competent resources.

Families Together London

Providing a listening ear for parents and other family members of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people.

For the Gworls

Raising money to assist with Black trans folks’ rent/ affirmative surgery.

Galop

London’s LGBT anti-violence & abuse charity, providing advice and support to people who have experienced biphobia, homophobia, transphobia, sexual violence or domestic abuse.

Gendered Intelligence

UK-based charity working with the trans community and those who impact on trans lives; they particularly specialise in supporting young trans people under the age of 21.

GLADT e.V.

Non-profit organisation of Black, Indigenous and of Colour LGBTIQ* with migration background.

G.L.I.T.S.

(Gays and Lesbians Living in a Transgender Society). Promotes visibility of the LGBTQIA community, encouraging the expansion and public awareness of queer fluid expression.

Mermaids

Charity supporting children, young people, and their families to achieve a happier life in the face of great adversity and campaigning for the recognition of gender dysphoria in young people.

METRO

Leading equality and diversity charity, providing health, community and youth services across London.

MindOut

A mental health service run by and for lesbians, gay, bisexual, trans and queer people with experience of mental health issues.

Marsha P. Johnson Institute

Protects and defends the human rights of Black transgender people.

Opening Doors London

Membership organisation providing information and support services specifically for older Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans* people in the UK.

Outline

The Outline LGBT helpline is a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, questioning (LGBTQ) helpline giving support, advice and information in confidence.

PFLAG

Promotes the health and well-being of LBTQ+ people, their families and friends.

Point Foundation

US-based charity empowering promising LGBTQ+ students to achieve their full academic and leadership potential.

Schwulenberatung Berlin

Centre offering advice and support for the LGBTQ+ community in Berlin.

SNaP Co.

(Solutions Not Punishment Collaborative). Atlanta-based Black trans- and queer-led abolitionist organisation.

Stonewall Housing Advice

Provides housing advice, advocacy, safe accommodation and support to young lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in the UK.

Switchboard LGBT+

Providing information, support and referral service for lesbians, gay men and bisexual and trans people – and anyone considering issues around their sexuality and/or gender identity.

The Attic Youth Center

Creating opportunities for LGBTQ youth to develop into healthy, independent, civic-minded adults within a safe and supportive community.

The Trevor Project

US organisation providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning young people under the age of 25.

The National Black Justice Coalition

Civil rights organisation for Black LGTBQ+ people.

The Okra Project

A collective that seeks to address the global crisis faced by Black Trans people by providing home cooked, healthy, and culturally specific meals and resources.

Trans Women of Color Collective

Creating safe spaces for trans and gender non-conforming people of colour and comrades.

Transgender Law Center

Largest national (US) trans-led organisation advocating self-determination for all people.

Transgender Gender-Variant & Intersex Justice Project

San Francisco-based organisation working to end human rights abuses against transgender, intersex, and gender-variant people, particularly trans women of colour in California prisons and detention centres.

UK Lesbian and Gay Immigration Group

Charity promoting equality and dignity for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) people who seek asylum in the UK, or who wish to immigrate here to be with their same-sex partner.

Whitman-Walker Health

Culturally competent community health center serving greater Washington’s diverse urban community.

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