Conversion Practices - Bernie's Story

Bernie is a devout Christian who has worked at a church for half his life, but suddenly discovers his sexuality during a trip away. When he shares this with his congregation, he is exposed to an escalating series of conversion practices within the church.

This is an account of what conversion practices might look like for a person undergoing them in Scotland today. Conversion practices are acts which deliberately try to change or suppress a person’s sexual orientation and/or gender identity. You can find out more about them here, and our campaign to end them in Scotland here.

While some forms are illegal, some are not, or operate in grey areas of the law. Conversion practices happen across a range of settings: in institutions and in the home, in religious settings and secular spaces, and by so-called professionals as well as family members.

Content note: This story contains descriptions of conversion practices, including spiritual and quasi-therapeutic practices, and mentions addiction.

You can read Bernie’s story here. The story was illustrated by Madeleine Leisk.