For those who have embraced their identity and seek to love freely, the horror of conversion therapy is an ongoing reality in India. Rahul’s story (name changed), a 22-year-old trans man, is an unsettling reminder of this truth. Forced into conversion therapy as a teenager, Rahul endured years of psychological harm, stigma, and trauma. While the National Medical Commission (NMC) issued a directive in 2022 advising against the practice, conversion therapy still thrives, highlighting loopholes in enforcement and revealing the urgent need for concrete legal protection.
Gaps in Legal Framework: Where the System Fails
Conversion therapy continues to harm countless individuals across the country, primarily due to a lack of explicit prohibitions in the legal framework. Recent Right to Information (RTIs) filed by a prominent trans activist brought some of these gaps to light, revealing that while government agencies acknowledge the issue, responses suggest that conversion therapy is yet to receive the focused attention it urgently needs.
For example, a request submitted to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) aimed at understanding their stance on conversion therapy was respectfully redirected to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MSJE), which typically addresses broader social welfare issues. In its response, the MSJE acknowledged LGBTQIA+ mental health concerns but did not outline specific steps or preventive measures against conversion therapy. This redirection of responsibility emphasizes the need for a collaborative, health-centered approach to address conversion therapy comprehensively
Bureaucratic Loopholes: How the System Passes the Buck
This RTI campaign quickly became an exercise in bureaucratic evasion. After reaching out to multiple health ministries and commissions, it became clear that government bodies were intent on passing off responsibility. The Ministry of AYUSH, overseeing alternative medicine, transferred the inquiry about conversion therapy practices to the National Commission for Homoeopathy and the National Commission for Indian Systems of Medicine, instead of directly addressing the issue. Similarly, the Homoeopathy Education Board redirected the request to yet another body, effectively distancing itself from any direct response.
The trend continued as these queries to other departments, like the Ministry of Education, were transferred from one agency to another without any acknowledgment of the urgency surrounding conversion therapy. This bureaucratic run-around demonstrates how systemic inaction prolongs the harm experienced by LGBTQIA+ individuals subjected to conversion practices. Instead of tackling the issue head-on, agencies are engaged in what feels like a game of bureaucratic “pass the parcel,” evading responsibility while lives remain at risk.
Absence of Data: How Negligence Becomes Harm
One of the most critical issues the investigation uncovered was the total lack of data on conversion therapy in India. Despite its harmful effects, the government has not conducted studies, collected statistics, or even acknowledged the scope of conversion therapy within the country. Without reliable data on how many people have undergone conversion therapy or on its psychological impacts, there is little evidence to guide policy or inform public health responses. This oversight leaves conversion therapy survivors effectively invisible, their experiences uncounted and their needs unmet.
International research, such as a 2022 study by the Human Rights Campaign, reveals that individuals who undergo conversion therapy suffer lasting psychological harm, with increased risks of depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. (Read the article here-https://www.hrc.org/resources/the-lies-and-dangers-of-reparative-therapy )
The survivor stories which have documented echo these findings, highlighting the systemic failures that allow these harmful practices to thrive. Sneha (name changed), a 25-year-old lesbian woman from Delhi, shared her harrowing experience of being subjected to forced psychiatric counseling by her family. For several months, she endured attempts to erase her sexual orientation, leaving her with deep emotional scars. The absence of legal recourse and supportive healthcare amplifies the urgent need for reform.
Yet, in India, no government body or health agency has taken steps to measure or document the impact of this practice. This neglect deepens the invisibility of affected individuals and stands as a major obstacle to ending conversion therapy.
The ACT Campaign: A Push for Concrete Action
“Every survivor’s story we document reaffirms that conversion therapy is a systematic failure,” says Shaman Gupta, Co-Founder of Misfyt. The data from these RTIs affirms that there has been clear negligence from the authorities.
In response to these failures, Misfyt has launched the Action Against Conversion Therapy (ACT) campaign, aimed at pressuring government bodies to address conversion therapy explicitly and enforce a nationwide ban. The ACT campaign is raising awareness, gathering voices, and amplifying calls for an enforceable, legally binding framework that would prohibit conversion therapy, hold practitioners accountable, and provide meaningful support for survivors.
The ACT petition, supported by Jhatkaa.org, allows individuals across the country to join this push for change. The campaign calls on the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, and the National Medical Commission to take a definitive stance on conversion therapy, protecting LGBTQIA+ individuals from the harms of this practice. By signing the petition, individuals can add their voices to a growing call for a future where acceptance replaces “therapy,” and human rights stand firmly protected.
You can support the campaign and add your voice by signing the ACT petition here (https://act.jhatkaa.org/campaigns/anti-conversion-therapy-petition ).
This simple action helps to shine a spotlight on an issue that remains dangerously hidden in Indian society.
The Way Forward: A Call to Collective Accountability
The findings from these RTI inquiries underscore an urgent need for transparency, accountability, and reform. Conversion therapy is a human rights violation, and its continued practice in India cannot be ignored. Every deflection, transfer, and failure to respond from these government bodies conveys the same message: the systemic disregard for LGBTQIA+ safety and mental well-being.
Yash, the founder of Official Humans of Queer, beautifully encapsulates the spirit of this movement: “Survivors of conversion therapy don’t just reclaim their lives; they rise as advocates for change. They remind us that the fight against discrimination is deeply personal.”
Through initiatives like the ACT campaign, we are pushing for a society where everyone can live openly and safely, without fear of coercive “therapies.” To make this a reality, we must demand better accountability from government institutions, clearer protections under the law, and a national commitment to respecting and safeguarding the rights of every individual.
How You Can Help
For real change to happen, public support and awareness are essential. Share this article, sign the petition, and raise awareness within your community. Each action brings us closer to a society that recognizes and respects the rights of LGBTQIA+ individuals, standing united against practices like conversion therapy that threaten the freedom and dignity of countless lives.
