Conversion Therapy
History
As with all pseudoscience’s conversion therapy has a complex history involving real scientific research that quickly devolved into chaotic and damaging practices picked up by religious organizations. In the early stages of research, Sigmund Freud was sceptical of the practice but wanted to test the possibilities. Using thorough research Freud ultimately decided that although conversion therapy worked on individuals who could now be identified as bi-sexual social pressure was not enough of a drive for homosexual individuals to change their desires or identity. Following Freud's death in 1939 his research was often misinterpreted as the willingness of a patient to be converted, at the time homosexuality was still viewed as a mental disorder and as such many individuals willingly participated in what they thought was a ‘cure’. In 1973 the American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality as a mental disorder from their framework following on from Stonewall in 1969 . However, some religious organisations failed to recognise this change and continue to perform conversion therapy to this day.
Conversion Policy in Aotearoa
The Conversion Practices Prohibition Legislation Bill has the purpose to prevent harm caused by conversion practices; and promote respectful and open discussions regarding sexuality and gender.
Ngā where Paremata- New Zealand Parliament Buildings
Ngā where Paremata- New Zealand Parliament Buildings
The New Zealand National Party was the only party to vote against Justice Minister, Kris Faafoi's, Conversion Practices Prohibition Bill 2021. The Bill was passed with the support of the following parties; Labour, Green, ACT, Te Paati Māori.
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The National Party's issue with the Bill is based around the point that it will criminalise, as written, good parents for being good parents. National want a 'parental exemption' to fully support the Bill. Former National Leader Simon Bridges said, "...it would be an attack on free speech and cancel culture." By almost eighteen years of age, most teenagers would have been through puberty and already developed secondary sex characteristics. Puberty blockers delay it's onset, giving children who haven't figured out their identity, yet more time to understand where they sit on the gender spectrum, Bridges reports.
"Let's aim for a better place to live in and raise our children. Our job is to keep them healthy, inspire their minds, shelter them from harm and encourage them to speak their minds."
"Let's aim for a better place to live in and raise our children. Our job is to keep them healthy, inspire their minds, shelter them from harm and encourage them to speak their minds."
"We want it gone; we just want to make sure that in the process of finding ourselves in a place where we could move to support the bill- we want to support this bill. We Just want to make sure we have the best piece of legislation."
"We want it gone; we just want to make sure that in the process of finding ourselves in a place where we could move to support the bill- we want to support this bill. We Just want to make sure we have the best piece of legislation."
"Good parents will be criminalised; facing up to five year's in jail for being parents to kids under eighteen. Parents should be allowed to be parents; they should be allowed to explore sexuality and gender with their children."
"Good parents will be criminalised; facing up to five year's in jail for being parents to kids under eighteen. Parents should be allowed to be parents; they should be allowed to explore sexuality and gender with their children."
Religion
What Are The Main Religions?
Within the contemporary setting of 2021 there are five religions that are recognised worldwide as the main religions. These religions can be broken up into Abrahamic religions; Christianity, Judaism, and Islam and Indian religions which includes Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and others. This section shall focus on the Abrahamic religions as their Holy Texts influence Western cultural ideals.
World population organised via religion (2021)
World population organised via religion (2021)
Religion and Sexuality
The Abrahamic Religions relationship to sexuality is complicated. Influenced by culture, Megan Todd theorises that sexuality is not considered a fluid thing.
As of 2021, multiple religious leaders have come together to renounce conversion therapy. Religious organisations, such as the Church of England called for a ban on the grounds that conversion therapy "was unethical". Furthermore, the church in 2017 announced they no longer viewed homosexuality as a crime. David Rosen, chief rabbi of Ireland, took a pledge in 2020 to end the practice. Judaism, in his perceptive, has been “misused to cause deep pain”. Rosen was among hundreds of religious leaders to sign a declaration.
Online Discourse
Social Media is a powerful tool. In the contemporary Western setting social media apps, such as tiktok, are used to spread resourceful information to an audience of all orientations. However, social media has been used, by certain political powers, to warp the online discourse of specific nations. An example of this is the Malaysian government promoting their citizens to partake in conversion therapy if necessary. Despite this example, social media has birthed an environment for survivors of conversion therapy to share their stories to an audience.
Personal Opinion
Conversion Therapy, as a result of contemporary media, has been the basis of many popular movie plotlines, including 'Boy Erased' (2018) and the cult classic ‘But I’m a Cheerleader' (1999), both of which concern LGBT+ issues. Survivors of conversion therapy applaud these films as being pillars upon which they can stand to tell their stories.
Still from 'But I'm a Cheerleader' (1999)
Still from 'But I'm a Cheerleader' (1999)
Survivors of Conversion Therapy have stated that these portrayals in the media are helpful in spreading awareness but Hollywood often forgets that conversion therapy is an extremely personal experience. Not all survivors are comfortable in expressing their perceptives' as the practice has dire consequences on the survivor's mental and physical health; often making them feel isolated.
Still from 'Boy Erased' (2018)
Still from 'Boy Erased' (2018)
James Guay, survivor, and psychotherapist working with the LGBT+ community in Los Angeles states that “recognizing that there is nothing to repair can take a lifetime”. Many survivors of conversion therapy were forced into the practice by family and their community, including Matthew Shurka and Elena Thurston.
Bibliography
History:
Blakemore, E. (2019) Gay Conversion Therapy's Disturbing 19th-Century Origins. Available from: https://www.history.com/news/gay-conversion-therapy-origins-19th-century [Accessed: September 20th 2021].
Graham, T. (2019) Conversion Therapy: A Brief Reflection on the History of the Practice and Contemporary Regulatory Efforts. In: Almodova, A. (ed.) Creighton Law Review. 52 (4). Nebraska, United States, School of Law Creighton University, pp. 419 – 427.
Sigmund, F., Strachey, J. & Richards, A. (1991) On sexuality : three essays on the theory of sexuality and other works, vol. 7. London, Pelican Freud library.
Evolution:
CBC News: The National (2019) ‘What is conversion therapy? An expert explains’ [video], available: https://youtu.be/zncdQ9KFDok [Accessed: 8th October 2021].
Methods:
Drescher, J., Schwartz, A., Casoy, F., McIntosh, C., Hurley, B., Ashley, K., Barber, M., Goldenberg, D., Herbert, S., Lothwell, E., Mattson, M., McAfee, S., Pula, J., Rosario, V., Tompkins, A. (2016) The Growing Regulation of Conversion Therapy. Journal of Medical Regulation. 102 (2). 7–12. Available from: https://doi.org/10.30770/2572-1852-102.2.7
International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims. (2020) Conversion Therapy is Torture. Available from: https://irct.org/media-and-resources/latest-news/article/1027 [Accessed: September 25th 2021].
Murphy, T. (1991) The ethics of conversion therapy. Bioethics. 5 (2). 123 – 138. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8519.1991.tb00154.x
Perspectives:
Apa.org. (2021). APA PsycNet. [online] Available at: https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1991-98036-010 [Accessed 7 Oct. 2021].
Appropriate Therapeutic Responses to Sexual Orientation. (n.d.). [online] Available at: https://www.apa.org/pi/lgbt/resources/therapeutic-response.pdf.
Hrc.co.nz. (2015). Human Rights Commission :: Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics. [online] Available at: https://www.hrc.co.nz/our-work/sogiesc/ [Accessed 7 Oct. 2021].
Haldeman, D. C. (1991). Sexual orientation conversion therapy for gay men and lesbians: A scientific examination. In J. C. Gonsiorek & J. D. Weinrich (Eds.), Homosexuality: Research implications for public policy (pp. 149–160). Sage Publications, Inc. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781483325422.n10
Meredith, F. (2019). The Irishman who claims to help people with “unwanted same-sex attractions.” [online] The Irish Times. Available at: https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/people/the-irishman-who-claims-to-help-people-with-unwanted-same-sex-attractions-1.3858250 [Accessed 7 Oct. 2021].
Trans- Tasman Comparison:
Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. (2020). Australian Chamber of Commerce and IndustryTrans-Tasman bubble a beacon for offshore tourism and trade - Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. [online] Available at: https://www.australianchamber.com.au/news/trans-tasman-bubble-a-beacon-for-offshore-tourism-and-trade/ [Accessed 7 Oct. 2021].
Equaldex.com. (2021). Compare LGBT Rights in Australia & New Zealand | Equaldex. [online] Available at: https://www.equaldex.com/compare/australia/new-zealand [Accessed 7 Oct. 2021].
Gay conversion practices to be outlawed by the Victorian Government - ABC News. (2020). ABC News. [online] 7 Nov. Available at: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-11-08/victoria-moves-to-ban-gay-conversion-practices/12851294 [Accessed 7 Oct. 2021].
Powell, A., Sandy, L. and Hiscock, R. (2020). Why Australia needs a national ban on conversion therapy. [online] The Conversation. Available at: https://theconversation.com/why-australia-needs-a-national-ban-on-conversion-therapy-145410 [Accessed 7 Oct. 2021].
The Library of Congress. (2015). Australia: Bills Banning Conversion Therapy Enacted in Two Jurisdictions. [online] Available at: https://www.loc.gov/item/global-legal-monitor/2020-09-25/australia-bills-banning-conversion-therapy-enacted-in-two-jurisdictions/ [Accessed 7 Oct. 2021].
Conversion Policy in Aotearoa:
Engage Victoria. (2021). Change or Suppression Practices - Legislative Ban. [online] Available at: https://engage.vic.gov.au/changeorsuppression [Accessed 7 Oct. 2021].
Guardian staff reporter (2021). It is time for New Zealand to end gay conversion practices. [online] the Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/commentisfree/2021/sep/06/it-is-time-for-new-zealand-to-end-gay-conversion-practices [Accessed 7 Oct. 2021].
RNZ News (2021). Conversion therapy “widely discredited by science” - Faafoi. [online] RNZ. Available at: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/448077/conversion-therapy-widely-discredited-by-science-faafoi [Accessed 7 Oct. 2021].
Dreaver, C. (2021). Greens challenge National stance on conversion therapy, use of te reo. [online] RNZ. Available at: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/448765/greens-challenge-national-stance-on-conversion-therapy-use-of-te-reo [Accessed 7 Oct. 2021].Aus vs. NZ:
Religion:
Delia Benaim, R. (2015) Let's talk about sects: Orthodox Jews join national conversation on homosexuality. In: The Guardian
Farley, H. (2020) Gay conversion therapy: Hundreds of religious leaders call for ban. In: BBC News
Hayes, L (2019) Former gay conversion therapist says practice does not work. Available from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdzgqRGdzUY
L J, M. (2011) Orthodox Judaism and LGBTQ Issues. In: My Jewish Learning
Markham, M. (2020) What Does the Bible Say About Homosexuality?. In: Human Rights Campaign (HRC)
Stevens, J. (2021) Conversion Therapy: a biblical response. In: Fiec.org.uk
Todd, M. (2021) Why the ban on conversion therapy has to include religious groups. In: The Conversation
International:
Madrigal-Borloz, V. (2020) Practices of so-called “conversion therapy”. In: United Nations, Human Rights Council. Cambridge, Massachusetts, United Nations. pp. 1 – 22.
Middleton, A. (2021) New Malaysian Anti-LGBT Law Proposal. Available from: https://theowp.org/new-malaysian-anti-lgbt-law-proposal/ [Accessed: 6th October 2021].
Discourse Online:
Joles, B. (2018) ‘Malaysian university holds contest to convert gay students’, NBC News, April 4, available: https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/malaysian-university-holds-contest-convert-gay-students-n861971 [Accessed: 8th October 2021].
Savage, R. (2020) LGBT+ conversion therapy survivors share on Tiktok. Available from: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-lgbt-tech-idUSKCN25E226
Personal Opinion:
Ramaswamy, C. (2018) ‘I still have flashbacks’: the ‘global epidemic’ of LGBT conversion therapy. Available from: The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/08/i-still-have-flashbacks-the-global-epidemic-of-lgbt-conversion-therapy
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