Banning Transgender Conversion Practices: A Legal and Policy Analysis

Survivors of conversion practices have likened them to torture. Bans on these practices have proliferated, and governments are considering following suit. Florence Ashley's book "Banning Transgender Conversion Practices" examines the scope of bans, differences across jurisdictions, advantages and disadvantages of legislative approaches, and the need for affirmative health care cultures and detailed laws. It culminates in a model law that offers guidance for legislatures and policymakers.

Format: Hardback
Length: 220 pages
Publication date: 08 April 2022
Publisher: University of British Columbia Press

Survivors of conversion practices, which aim to prevent gender transition, have described these interventions as torture. Over the past decade, there has been a significant increase in the implementation of bans on these deeply unethical and harmful processes, with governments worldwide considering following suit.
The issue of banning transgender conversion practices raises crucial questions for individuals studying and working to prevent these harmful interventions. These questions include:
What is the scope of these bans? How do they vary across different jurisdictions? What are the advantages and disadvantages of legislative approaches to regulating trans conversion therapy? How can we enhance these prohibitions?
Florence Ashley addresses these questions and highlights the importance of affirmative health care cultures and comprehensive laws that clearly communicate which practices are prohibited.
Banning Transgender Conversion Practices takes a trans-realist approach to rethinking and advancing the legal regulation of conversion therapy. It culminates in a carefully annotated model law that provides detailed guidance for legislatures and policymakers.
This model law emphasizes the importance of protecting the rights and dignity of transgender individuals, promoting their well-being, and preventing harm from conversion therapy. It outlines specific provisions that prohibit the use of coercion, force, or any other form of abuse in the provision of conversion therapy.
The model law also includes provisions to ensure that individuals seeking conversion therapy are provided with appropriate information and support, including access to mental health services and counseling. It recognizes the importance of providing alternative therapies that are based on evidence-based practices and that respect the gender identity of individuals.
Furthermore, the model law emphasizes the need for robust enforcement mechanisms to ensure that these provisions are implemented effectively. It provides for penalties and sanctions for individuals and organizations that violate these provisions, including fines, imprisonment, and other forms of legal action.
In conclusion, banning transgender conversion practices is a critical step towards protecting the rights and dignity of transgender individuals. It requires a trans-realist approach to rethinking and advancing the legal regulation of conversion therapy. A carefully annotated model law, such as the one presented in this paper, can provide detailed guidance for legislatures and policymakers to ensure that these prohibitions are implemented effectively and that transgender individuals are protected from harm.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780774866927