Introduction

Multiple jurisdictions are debating responses to United Nations calls for banning attempts at conversion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and asexual (LGBTQA +) peoples’ identities to fit religious norms. This paper aimed to examine Australian LGBTQA + youths’ experiences and outcomes of religious conversion practices attempting to change or suppress their gender or sexuality. It explored how attending conversion practices related to demographic characteristics and outcomes.

Methods

A 2019 online health and social well-being survey promoted via diverse social media questioned 6412 LGBTQA + Australians aged 14–21 years on their experiences of sexuality or gender change or suppression practices. Descriptive and inferential analyses were performed to understand relationships between exposure to conversion practices and demographic, socio-behavioural, and health and well-being measures.

Results

Whilst most participants had never attended counselling, group work, programs or interventions aimed at changing their sexuality or gender identity, 4% had attended such conversion practices. Analyses showed associations between engaging with conversion practices and (1) specific demographics (being cisgender male, multi-gender-attracted, unemployed, affiliated to a religion at the personal or household level); (2) social experiences (increased exposure to social rejection, negative remarks and harassment); (3) socio-behavioural outcomes (decreased education, sport and housing opportunities) and (4) negative health and mental health outcomes (including increased suicidality and self-harm).

Conclusions

The paper showed that conversion practices are correlated with poor well-being outcomes, providing arguments for expanding inclusive health and mental health services allowing for affirming religious and non-religious identities for LGBTQA + youth.

Policy Implications

The paper provides evidence supporting bans on conversion practices.

中文翻译：

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宗教皈依实践和 LGBTQA + 青年

介绍

多个司法管辖区正在讨论回应联合国关于禁止尝试将女同性恋、男同性恋、双性恋、跨性别、酷儿和无性恋 (LGBTQA +) 人的身份转变为符合宗教规范的呼吁。本文旨在研究澳大利亚 LGBTQA + 青年试图改变或压制他们的性别或性取向的宗教皈依实践的经历和结果。它探讨了参与转换实践如何与人口特征和结果相关。

方法

2019 年通过各种社交媒体推广的在线健康和社会福利调查对 6412 名 14-21 岁的 LGBTQA + 澳大利亚人进行了询问，了解他们的性经历、性别改变或压制做法。进行了描述性和推理性分析，以了解转化实践的暴露与人口统计、社会行为以及健康和福祉措施之间的关系。

结果

虽然大多数参与者从未参加过旨在改变其性取向或性别认同的咨询、小组工作、计划或干预，但 4% 的人参加了此类转换实践。分析显示参与皈依实践与 (1) 特定人口统计数据（顺性别男性、多性别吸引、失业、在个人或家庭层面隶属于宗教）之间存在关联；(2) 社会经历（更多地接触社会排斥、负面评论和骚扰）；(3) 社会行为结果（教育、运动和住房机会减少）和 (4) 负面健康和心理健康结果（包括自杀和自残增加）。

结论

该论文表明，皈依实践与较差的福祉结果相关，为扩大包容性健康和心理健康服务提供了论据，允许确认 LGBTQA + 青年的宗教和非宗教身份。

政策影响

该文件提供了支持禁止转换做法的证据。