UK Government is Making gay Conversion Therapy Illegal, and I’m Pissed.
Ok, the title may be a tad misleading, but it’s true in part. Read on.
So today here the UK something big happened. Not the England vs. Croatia match, although that is what will be the biggest news without doubt, but the news that the UK government is going to make gay conversion therapy illegal.
Awesome news, right? Whilst your friendly neighbourhood Stuie agrees, it really does beg the question why has it taken to 2018 for this to happen? Seriously, WTF?
In a world where LGBTQ rights are improving and our visibility within the media and entertainment is not only stronger but more appropriate than it ever has been, it does beg the question why did, or does, anyone believe that there is a need for gay conversion therapy?
The decision comes off the back of a study by the Equalities Office whereby 108,000 members of the LGBTQ community responded, making it the biggest of its kind. The point of the survey was part of a new 75 point plan to improve the lives of LGBTQ people across the UK. Love that, it’s fantastic, but why the shit has it taken so long for the government to realise that this practice should be illegal? Bear in mind these forms of treatments often include such aversive therapies as shock treatment, prayer (cue huge eye roll from me) and everything in between and it has been discredited by the UK’s National Health Service and The World Psychiatric Association.
What’s worse, is that these practices are legal for unqualified practitioners and faith groups to carry out. The survey showed that 7% of the people that took part had undergone or been offered conversion therapy. That’s a huge number of people.
Now, I don’t want to be that guy who makes a negative out of a positive, I really don’t. I am genuinely pleased about the decision and I hope it’s the start of a move to address a number of inequalities present within the UK LGBTQ communities, but sweet Jesus doesn’t it just show how far we still have to go in terms of equality and acceptance? I can’t see a world where someone would have probes stuck to them and electrics shocks administered to stop them being heterosexual. How did gay marriage come before this?
I don’t mean to sound annoyed, but part of me is and I’m conflicted because I feel like I should be happy, but I also believe part of that is that we get conditioned to believe that we should be happy with whatever we are given. Don’t make a fuss because you’re getting something good, even if it is tinged with a sad truth. Mind you, that could also easily be part of my Midlands upbringing. Keep quiet and make the most of what you’ve got.
Whilst this news is a fantastic step forward for the UK LGBTQ community, I can’t help but feel that it also brings up a number of questions about why this hasn’t been addressed before. Is it just me? Am I creating an issue where there is none? Should we just sit back and be happy that the law is being changed? Or should we stand up and ask ourselves, and everyone else, why the world has felt it is OK for this disgusting, damaging and abhorrent practice to continue for as long as it has?
You tell me.
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