LGBT+ charity calls Health Secretary’s conversion therapy comments ‘damaging and wrong’

A LGBT+ anti-abuse charity has called the Health Secretary’s comments on trans conversion therapy “damaging and wrong”.

Sajid Javid suggested medical professionals need to determine if someone’s gender dysphoria is “genuine”, or see if the individual is suffering from “child sex abuse” or “linked to bullying”.

LGBT+ anti-abuse charity Galop has said “suggesting that child sexual abuse and/or bullying changes someone’s gender identity is damaging and wrong”.

The government’s muddled conversion therapy ban is receiving a huge backlash after it was revealed it won’t protect trans people from the harmful practice.

Speaking about conversion therapy on Sky News, Javid said: “When it comes to conversion therapy, it is absolutely right, as the government has said, that we ban the so-called ‘conversion therapy’ for LGB [lesbian, gay and bisexual] people. When it comes to trans, I do think that we need to be more careful.”

He went on to say “it is right for medical professionals to be able to question” if someone says they have gender dysphoria, “and to determine what the cause might be.

“Is it a genuine case of gender identity dysphoria, or could it be that individual is suffering from some form of child sex abuse, for example, or could it be linked to bullying?”, Javid claimed.

Because of this he said the government is right to take the approach of banning conversion therapy for lesbian, gay and bisexual people, but to “take a much more sensitive approach when it comes to trans”.

LGBT+ anti-abuse charity Galop said: “Let’s be clear: Being abused doesn’t ’cause’ you to be trans. Trans people are more likely to experience abuse and violence based on their identity, and suggesting that child sexual abuse and/or bullying changes someone’s gender identity is damaging and wrong.

“LGBT+ people should have access to affirming services that support them, and spaces to explore their identities. The important difference is that those spaces should not have a pre-determined outcome. Everyone should be supported to come to their own understanding of who they are, and no one should be forced to be someone they’re not.”

The Department for Health and Social Care has been contacted for comment.

For anyone needing support, Galop’s National Conversion Therapy Helpline is open on 0800 130 3335 and [email protected].

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• Conversion therapy ban will go ahead but won’t cover trans people