The Government has announced today that it is extending the consultation period for its proposed ban on conversion therapy by eight weeks, and the deadline is now 4th February 2022.
The easy read version is finally now available to enable more people to understand why ministers want to take action.
Banning conversion therapy consultation: Easy Read (low resolution) (publishing.service.gov.uk)
We are hugely concerned that the language in this version is misleading. The introduction states that being “transgender is when your gender is different from your birth sex”. This is not scientific or a biological fact. Gender dysphoria is a mental condition, which in children is very often transient.
A recently published study by David Schwartz, Ph.D. a US psychologist who has written on the subjects of sexuality and gender for the past thirty years, argues that “the use of pharmacological and surgical interventions in the treatment of gender dysphoric youth, especially in light of what is known about the transience of cross-gender identification in children, is mistaken both clinically and ethically. He further argues that psychotherapy, neglected by most of those advocating pharmacological and surgical interventions, is the best treatment option for these patients.”
Yet the Government seems intent on banning talking therapy for those who want to discuss gender identity and sexuality. This would effectively criminalise anyone who talks through these issues with children and young people, meaning that parents, teachers, counsellors, mental health professionals and religious leaders could all face being charged with an offense if they choose to help a vulnerable person under 18.
This could lead to children suffering with gender dysphoria being started on a pathway of puberty blockers, cross sex hormones and surgery because they are unable to get the help they need to discuss the issues behind wanting to transition to appearing physically like the opposite sex.
Children with gender dysphoria are likely to be suffering with other mental health issues which are the underlying cause of their dysphoria, and they are also much more likely to be autistic.
For further reading, FET Trustee Dr Julie Maxwell has written an article about the treatment of Gender Dysphoria in children (cmf.org.uk)
80% of children eventually grow out of dysphoric feelings once they go through puberty.
It’s vital that as many people as possible respond to the consultation to ensure that children are protected from the government’s attempts to ban conversion therapy. Do share it widely and contact us for any help needed to fill it in.
