Great Britain and the back and forth around "homo cures".

Most recently, the headline that there would not be a ban on therapy to "cure homosexuality and bisexuality" in Great Britain caused a stir.
However, there were not only protests from the population, but also from Boris Johnson's own party. Therefore, Johnson now apparently felt called to row back. According to a BBC report, the ban on homosexual healing will now also come to Great Britain.

Great Britain and the "homo cures

What exactly has been decided now?

After much discussion and a high level of outrage that the therapy ban was apparently going to be shelved, something was announced on Friday that should cause many queers in the UK to breathe a sigh of relief. So probably homosexual and bisexual people in the UK can actually benefit from the ban on "homo cures" in the future.

Because: Even in Great Britain, many queer people still have to undergo therapies in order to be cured of their sexuality, as if it were a disease. This is an extremely discriminatory procedure, which also explicitly refers to the fact that people who are queer are "not normal" in the minds of many people.

The therapies are experienced by many people as traumatic and ultimately also leave traces on the soul. The good news, however, is that this is now over in Great Britain! By law, there may officially be no more therapies to "cure" homo- and bisexuality. A small (, big) drop of bitterness: The law change does not refer to therapies for the healing of transsexuality. These are - for whatever reason - still not allowed.

What exactly are conversion therapies or "homo cures"?

Conversion therapies are assigned to the field of psychotherapy. They are mostly used for religious reasons and are intended to combat homosexual tendencies while promoting heterosexual potential.

This form of therapy is so hotly debated, among other reasons, because science can prove that it is not possible to consciously control one's own sexual orientation and, of course, also because any therapy of this kind supports the assumption that homosexuality is a disease. After the respective treatments, many of those affected suffered from depression. Some are also said to have resorted to drugs and/or committed suicide.

What is the legal situation in Germany?

In 2020, the German government passed a law banning conversion therapy in the country. Unlike the UK, transgender people are also included in the law in Germany. Again, however, it would be a little too early to cheer enthusiastically. Because: this ban only applies to public conversion therapies. In Germany, "only" the legal guardians are still allowed to try to "cure" the children or teenagers. So, frighteningly, the message of "You are not okay the way you are" may still be transmitted within the family.

Why do so many conservative forces still advocate conversion therapy?

Conservative forces, such as the Catholic Church, repeatedly speak out explicitly against the ban on conversion therapies. Again and again it is propagated that heterosexuality is the only thing worth striving for.

Among other things, the so often cited "protection of the family" is also repeatedly raised in this context. The fact is that even in today's modern age, many people are still unable to break away from the classic man-woman construct. However, in a time when there are also more and more representatives from conservative circles who are apparently quite capable of changing their minds, the chances of a more tolerant future are not too bad.

 

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