Advocates Warn that Therapy for Gender Questioning Individuals May Amount to ‘Conversion Therapy’

The LGB Alliance advocates for the rights of individuals who may be gay or bisexual but are being led to believe they are transgender instead, seeking help for gender dysphoria and being directed towards surgical and sterilization procedures.

LGB Alliance supports Dr. Hilary Cass’s findings on the growing number of gender-questioning young individuals and the mental health crisis.

However, the group’s CEO, Kate Barker, expressed shock that therapists’ fears of assisting a child in exploring their feelings might be misconstrued as attempting to prevent them from being transgender, potentially labeled as a conversion practice.

The government has suggested banning conversion therapy that aims to change or suppress one’s sexuality, but the bill to outlaw it has not been introduced yet. Nonetheless, with indications that Labour may win the next general election by a large margin, a ban on conversion therapy could soon resurface.

Transgender Trend, a campaign group, stated it broadly supports the Cass Review as it has long called for a therapeutic approach for those questioning their gender, but shares concerns about professionals facing accusations of engaging in conversion therapy for challenging someone’s identity.

‘Captured By Zealous Ideology’

Dr. Cass’s report revealed that some investigations were obstructed due to a lack of cooperation from adult gender services.

Ms. Barker voiced concern that evidence gathering for The Cass Review has been deliberately obstructed, jeopardizing its recommendations while institutions remain under the influence of proponents of gender identity ideology.

It was made evident in the report that puberty blockers are not a “pause” but rather a direct path to cross-sex hormones.

‘A Hideous Error’

The charity Sex Matters urged for halting proposals to ban conversion therapy, echoing the concerns raised by the LGB Alliance about being forced to unquestioningly affirm someone’s chosen identity.

Sex Matters criticized the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on conversion therapy in the UK and called for it to be abolished, along with various bills on conversion therapy that are out of touch with the direction of NHS gender medicine.

The organization emphasized the need to question how professional and regulatory bodies, as well as medical schools, were influenced by an evidence-free approach.

Children Have Been ‘Badly Let Down’

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak acknowledged the report’s findings that some gender-affirming treatments for children and young people may have unknown consequences.

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper stated that children have been let down and expressed support for all of the report’s recommendations.

The minister for victims and safeguarding, Laura Farris, mentioned that the government is reviewing the 400-page Cass Review to determine potential actions concerning prescriptions for gender-blocking drugs from private clinics and online sources.