From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
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The Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration, Roderic O’Gorman, today announced that research into conversion therapy is being conducted by a team from the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin.
Conversion therapies are practices that can be defined as any treatment aimed at changing a person's sexual orientation or gender identity. They have been widely discredited as being both ineffective and harmful to those who are exposed to them.
Announcing the research, Minister O’Gorman said:
“I want to reaffirm the government’s commitment to legislate to ban the practice of conversion therapy. The research will ensure that the legislation is based on reliable evidence, and grounded in best international practice.”
The research study will give an insight into how conversion therapy practices operate in Ireland. Dr Brian Keogh who is leading the research team, said:
“Interviewing people who have first-hand experience of conversion therapy will help us to understand how it affected them and if there are any long-term consequences. It will also help us to determine who is most vulnerable to conversion practices and what types of practices are involved.”
The study will also include an examination of the growing body of recent international research literature in the area.
Minister O’Gorman added:
“I have met with people who have experienced conversion therapy, and they have told me about the effect of a practice which, at its core, seeks to undermine an individual’s identity and, in doing so, leaves a lasting trauma. The research being carried out by Trinity College is an important first step in banning this cruel practice in Ireland.”
Individuals who would like to know more about the study or wish to take part can contact the research team at Trinity College at conversiontherapy@tcd.ie
ENDS
Conversion therapies are practices that can be defined as any treatment aimed at changing a person's sexual orientation or gender identity. Many different approaches are used including psychotherapy, medication, electroshock therapy, aversive treatments and exorcism. It is generally difficult to obtain data or statistics about the prevalence of conversion therapy because, among other things, it is often done in secret. However, it is estimated that 5% of the LGBTI community have been offered conversion therapies and that 2% have undergone such therapies, but other sources suggest that these figures are much higher. The European Parliament has strongly condemned LGBTI conversion therapies and has made repeated calls on Member States to ban such practices.
The Programme for Government contains a commitment to legislate to end the practice of conversion therapy. This overarching commitment is reflected in Ireland’s national LGBTI+ Strategies. Action 8(b) in the LGBTI+ National Youth Strategy 2018 – 2020 provides for the prohibition of “the promotion or practice of conversion therapy by health professionals in Ireland” and the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy 2019-2022 commits to ensuring that the practice of conversion therapy in Ireland is investigated and followed up with appropriate counter measures (Action 24.1).