OP-ED: Lucy London - Serving the T(trans) on Outrageous Conversion Therapy Laws
By Lucy London
Serving the T(trans) on the outrageous laws on conversion therapy
When you feel you have no breath left, when you feel sick to your stomach and you have zero ways of navigating what a government is dictating to a whole part of your beloved community, you have to listen to what is needed directly from that community, gather your thoughts, stand up, and it's time to try and find words no matter how they come out, speak out! That's exactly what myself and thousands of Trans supporters did on Sunday. Predicted hundreds, but thousands gathered outside 10 Downing St as we will never be silent while our community is being attacked. How many protests need to happen? How many voices need to be amplified, how many lives have to be lost and put in additional danger before a government will hear? It seems that Trans lives don't matter to a government who make their own rules, create their own divides between them and us and dictate what is fit for individuals that they have no relationship to.
I have always had an exceptional issue with bullies, they exist everywhere, that I recognise, when strength, resilience and fairness shines through, the bullies seem to surface, you may have experienced it during school, when notably development and experience of differences is new. Any kind of difference is seen as a red flag, you are singled out and you are force fed a narrative that isn't your story. You can choose to try and fit in, sometimes for sheer survival but you get to the point where you feel you shouldn't have to justify your existence, but when the bullies are running the whole F*cking country this then infringes on your whole existence and should be the biggest red flag there is. When you are secure in your understanding of who you are, you question why should someone's life be made harder all due to the decisions of the government that's meant to be leaders and making choices for the best of all its people.
Of course I am talking about, Conversion therapy. The act in itself is mental abuse, trying to manipulate someones mind, challenge their self believe system and etch negative associations with the true being is abuse. When it comes to conversion therapy, I use the word “therapy” loosely, as many of us have benefited from “productive” therapy of some nature to navigate our way through cruel hands dealt and situations that a human should not have to face, often alone. Yet we are faced with the word therapy, the definition: “treatment intended to relieve or heal a disorder”, “the treatment of a mental or psychological disorder by psychological means”. Being Trans is not a disorder to be healed. NO one needs to be relieved of being their true self. Conversion definition: “the process of changing or causing something to change from one to another''. So what is being said? The need to change a Trans person's being is available in the form of a therapy available and passed by UK law. Directly implying that being trans is wrong and something that needs to be changed.
I am incensed at a government who chooses to enforce this abuse and create this human damage by singling out the Trans community. Directly passing legislation on banning conversion therapy to the L (Lesbian) B (Bi) G (Gay) individuals but not banning for the T (trans). There is no LGBT without the T. This move just shows our governments archaic views on gender. How transphobic our government is and how they directly endorse the objectification of this barbaric “therapy” on a part of our community who already have less rights and access to so many services and be recognised as self. Enough is enough! We should all be outraged on this injustice, completely done on this type of segregation, and call out our government on this bullying.
This is not just about conversion therapy, this is a catalyst for breeding larger hate to our Trans community. It is time the government takes responsibility for its abuse, its singling out, bigoted hate and it's time they viewed the world as it is! Trans folx are not going anywhere! Lesbians like myself stand with my trans siblings, my Bi counterparts support our Trans family and Gay individuals will be shoulder to shoulder with our Trans community. The government has underestimated how much our community has been through, to simply exist. This is larger than a therapy, this is accountability to protection of life. I love too many of my trans community to have them legally open to receive this “therapy”. And while I am here, when I say “our'' government, they aren't “my” government! And when I state ‘Trans rights’, I mean ‘human rights' and when I say we won't stop, I mean we will never stop fighting for our entire LGB, and yes there is a T there, Boris, community. When one LGBT individual is affected, we all are! We will not be silent, we will not stop until our T is included and we won't tire, as we have our LGBT ancestors to gather strength and learning from.
Come for us - if you dare.
Love Lucy London @lucylondonofficial
Sign UK Government and Parliament Petition https://petition.parliament.uk/signatures/124979271/signed