To help end Conversion Therepy sign the petition here and fill out the big idea here

Conversion therapy, a harmful and discredited practice aimed at changing an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity, continues to cast a dark shadow over the lives of LGBTQ+ individuals. In the United Kingdom, there is growing momentum to ban trans conversion therapy due to its devastating effects on transgender and gender-diverse people. This article explores why it is crucial to ban trans conversion therapy in the UK and outlines actionable steps that university students can take to help push the government towards this long-awaited ban.

Understanding Trans Conversion Therapy

Trans conversion therapy, also known as "conversion therapy for gender identity," involves attempts to change an individual's gender identity or expression through psychological or medical interventions. These practices include aversion therapy, talk therapy, and even forced confinement. They are widely discredited and condemned by medical and mental health professionals worldwide.

Why Banning Trans Conversion Therapy Is Essential

Protecting Vulnerable Individuals

Transgender and gender-diverse individuals already face significant challenges, including discrimination, stigma, and violence. Trans conversion therapy exacerbates these difficulties by subjecting them to emotional and psychological trauma. Banning this practice is a critical step in protecting the mental and emotional well-being of vulnerable individuals.

Upholding Human Rights

Trans conversion therapy is a violation of human rights. It infringes upon the principles of autonomy, dignity, and bodily integrity. Banning it aligns the UK with international human rights standards and signals a commitment to equality and non-discrimination.

Safeguarding Mental Health

Research consistently shows that conversion therapy is linked to increased rates of anxiety, depression, self-harm, and suicide among LGBTQ+ individuals. Banning trans conversion therapy can contribute to the mental health and overall well-being of transgender and gender-diverse people.

What You Can Do

Raise Awareness

University students have a powerful platform to raise awareness about the harms of trans conversion therapy. Organise events, workshops, or panel discussions on campus to educate your peers and faculty about the need for a ban. Use social media student publications, and community networks to share information and stories.

Advocate for Change

Engage in advocacy efforts by joining or supporting LGBTQ+ student groups, human rights organisations, and trans advocacy initiatives. Collaborate with local and national organisations that are actively working to ban conversion therapy in the UK. Write letters, emails, or petitions to government officials, expressing your concerns and urging them to act. At our Students' Union, there is a big idea you can support to ensure that our Union will support efforts to push the government towards a ban.

Contact Your MPs

One of the most direct ways to push for change is to contact your Members of Parliament (MPs). Share your views and concerns about trans conversion therapy with them and ask for their support in advocating for a ban. Encourage your fellow students to do the same.

Participate in Protests and Demonstrations

Join protests, demonstrations, and rallies advocating for the ban on trans conversion therapy. Showing solidarity through peaceful activism can send a strong message to lawmakers about the urgency of the issue.

Amplify Voices

Give a platform to the voices and experiences of transgender and gender-diverse individuals who have been affected by conversion therapy. Sharing personal stories can humanize the issue and motivate others to support the ban.

Banning trans conversion therapy in the UK is a matter of human rights, mental health, and social justice. University students can play a pivotal role in driving change by raising awareness, advocating for reform, and supporting affected individuals. Together, we can work towards a future where all transgender and gender-diverse people can live their lives free from the harm of conversion therapy and with the dignity and respect they deserve.