Topic: Relatability

Mobilising LGBTQI+ people will probably be the easiest strategy, and definitely worth investing a lot of energy. A good example is the 2025 All Out campaign for an EU ban on Conversion Practices

Nevertheless, many potential supporters are outside LGBTQI+ circles. In general, people are more likely to empathise with subjects that they can relate to personally so the issue of Conversion Practices will trigger emotional reactions from people who have faced comparable situations. These include people with different physical abilities, whose “dis”ability may have been targeted for “correction” rather than seen as a potential force. For example, not long ago left-handed schoolchildren in Europe were beaten by teachers until they conformed to right–hand writing.  It also includes people who don’t fit dominant gender norms, whilst not identifying as Trans. Although Conversion Practices cannot be compared to milder forms of social “engineering” such as “boys don’t cry” or “girls don’t speak loud”, people who have been bullied into changing their behaviour might have a more sympathetic ear than others.