Welsh Government Consultation on Conversion Therapy
The Welsh Government has set out to ban “conversion therapy” as part of their LGBTQ+ Action Plan and is consulting with the public. This consultation closes on 22 October 2021.
Respond here to the consultation.
Here is our guide on how to respond:
Q1. Do you think the Action Plan will increase equality for LGBTQ+ people and what do you think the priorities should be?
No.
The Action “Use all available powers to ban all aspects of LGBTQ+ conversion therapy and seek the devolution of any necessary additional powers.” fails to define what “conversion therapy” is. It further decreases equality for those that are “same-sex attracted” or do not take a label of sexual identity in getting professional help.
Speak to organisations which currently work with a population that do not identify as LGBT and are seeking help to address unwanted same-sex lust and exploring opposite-sex attractions. This population doesn’t identify as heterosexual or LGBTQ and therefore are never represented in LGBTQ research.
Q2. Do you agree with the overarching aims? What would you add or take away in relation the overarching aims?
Yes.
It is unclear whether the “LGBTQ” here includes individuals that are same sex attracted or do not hold on to a particular sexual identity.
Q3. Do you agree with the proposed actions? What would you add or take away in relation the actions?
No.
Action 10 ignores clients which have gender dysphoria and do not need a LGBTQ affirming route that prescribes puberty blockers. It also ignores clients which have benefitted from therapy in an increase of opposite-sex attractions, which saved their marriage or brought them into line with beliefs and values.
Q4. What are the key challenges that could stop the aims and actions being achieved?
Without a proper definition of conversion therapy, the law is likely to stall. Let’s agree on a definition that works for all: “A coercive attempt to change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity”. Coercion has no place in any type of therapy as it is the client who decides whether they participate in the session or not.
Q5. What resources (this could include funding, staff time, training, access to support or advocacy services among other things) do you think will be necessary in achieving the aims and actions outlined?
In respect to Action 10, it would be speaking to the population that voluntarily seems to take this route and their experiences, as opposed to those who now identify as LGBTQ.
Q6. Do you feel the LGBTQ+ Action Plan adequately covers the intersection of LGBTQ+ with other protected characteristics, such as race, religion or belief, disability, age, sex, and marriage and civil partnership? If not, how can we improve this?
No
People of faith who use the term same-sex attracted, “exgay” or choose not to identify with a sexual orientation are not covered. For example, how many Muslims, Christians or Jews who experience same sex attraction have ever been considered?
Q7. We would like to know your views on the effects that these proposals would have on the Welsh language, specifically on opportunities for people to use Welsh and on treating the Welsh language no less favourably than English.
What effects do you think there would be? How could positive effects be increased, or negative effects be mitigated?
Support is best in all languages.
Q8. Please also explain how you believe the proposed policy approach could be formulated or changed so as to have positive effects or increased positive effects on opportunities for people to use the Welsh language and on treating the Welsh language no less favourably than the English language, and no adverse effects on opportunities for people to use the Welsh language and on treating the Welsh language no less favourably than the English language.
Support is best in all languages.
Q9. This plan has been developed in co-construction, and discussions around language and identity have shown that the acronym LGBTQ+ should be used. This stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning people, with the + representing other sexual identities. As a result we refer to LGBTQ+ people in the Plan.
What are your views on this term and is there an alternative you would prefer? Welsh speakers may wish to consider suitable terminology in both languages.
Yes, thank you for clarifying this. Does the + include those who do not identify with a sexual identity, does it take into consideration those who don’t identify as heterosexual but as same-sex attracted?
Q10. We have asked a number of specific questions. If you have any related issues which we have not specifically addressed, please use this space to report them:
Research the cases of:
- Maya Forstater v Centre for Global Development
- Otto et al. v. Boca Raton, FL
- James Esses
These cases highlight the Equality Act (2010) protecting beliefs. An individual that wants to undertake therapy to explore or increase their opposite-sex attractions is protected by the Equality Act (2010).
Even the Memorandum of Conversion Therapy states: “For people who are unhappy about their sexual orientation or their gender identity, there may be grounds for exploring therapeutic options to help them live more comfortably with it, reduce their distress and reach a greater degree of self-acceptance. Some people may benefit from the support of psychotherapy and counselling to help them manage unhappiness and to clarify their sense of themselves. Clients make healthy choices when they understand themselves better. Ethical practice in these cases requires the practitioner to have adequate knowledge and understanding of gender and sexual diversity and to be free from any agenda that favours one gender identity or sexual orientation as preferable over other gender and sexual diversities. For this reason, it is essential for clinicians to acknowledge the broad spectrum of sexual orientations and gender identities and gender expressions“