Researching the lack of prohibition against reparative therapy: The government fears being called 'woke'

There is a need for a ban on conversion therapy in Denmark, where attempts are made to convert homosexuals and transgender individuals into heterosexuals and cisgender individuals through methods such as group meetings, therapy, or conversations with religious advisors.

Such is the message from LGBT+ Denmark, which is dissatisfied that politicians at Christiansborg have not taken the initiative for a ban, even though they published a study on the possibility of it in the summer.

However, there is a good reason why the governing parties have not gone further with a ban on the therapy form, according to Peter Edelberg, who is a researcher in LGBT history at the University of Copenhagen.

He believes that the government is afraid of being called 'woke', as a ban also applies to transgender individuals.

- They are very cautious about doing anything, especially when it comes to transgender individuals.

- One might well fight for the rights of homosexuals, that's not particularly controversial. But the moment one says: "We will not tolerate conversion therapy for young transgender individuals", there are not many politicians who are eager to touch the subject out of fear of being labeled 'woke'.

Susanne Branner Jespersen, who is the secretary general of LGBT+ Denmark, states that it is especially young people in religious environments who go through conversion therapy.

- As far as we know, it is usually young people in religious environments who are more fundamentalist or conservative in their views. So it is mainly Christian and Muslim environments that we hear reports from.

- They try to adapt and cannot reconcile it with their faith, so they may marry and have children, and then it doesn't work out. And then they come out on the other side and have caused harm to themselves, and this can have life-long consequences for those who experience it, she says.

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Legislation was easier to pass ten years ago

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Peter Edelberg assesses that it was easier to pass LGBT legislation ten years ago, and this is due to the anti-woke wave. But things are still happening in the area. There are just no politicians who are shouting about it, he says.

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> I think it's an important signal to send to those who are subjected to it that they actually have the backing of the Danish society to be who they are.

> Susanne Branner, secretary general of LGBT+ Denmark

- In 2021, sexuality, gender identity, and gender expression were included in equality legislation, so one cannot discriminate on that basis. But no politicians have come out and taken ownership and said: "Look at what we have achieved – isn't it fantastic? Aren't you proud of us?"

- Things are happening on this front, but politicians are hiding in the bushes, he says.

The latest figures from 2020 ( https://www2.mim.dk/Udgiv/Ligestilling%202021/omvendelsesterapi-viden-om-og-karakter-i-danmark-mend-blik-til-udlandet.pdf ) show that eight percent of LGBT+ individuals have gone through conversion therapy.

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The government initiated an investigation

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Susanne Branner Jespersen, secretary general of LGBT+ Denmark, believes that there should be a ban on conversion therapy in Denmark (Photo: © Mathias Svold, Ritzau Scanpix)

The government initiated an investigation last year into the possibility of a ban, which shows that Danish legislation already has protection against many of the actions that conversion therapy can involve, such as physical and psychological violence, forced marriages, and re-education trips.

However, there is still a need to ban the therapy form, believes Susanne Branner Jespersen, secretary general of LGBT+ Denmark.

- I don't think people realize that it can be illegal.

- I think it's an important signal to send to those who are subjected to it; that they actually have the backing of the Danish society to be who they are. And that they or others with the law in hand can say: This form of social control we do not want to see in Denmark, she says.

Susanne Branner Jespersen believes that the government should be inspired by the legislation against conversion therapy in Iceland, Norway, and Germany.

It has not been possible to obtain a comment from the environment and equality minister Magnus Heunicke (S) or the Social Democrats' equality spokesperson, Gunvor Wibroe.

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