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Illustrated Conversion Practices Stories

To help understand what conversion practices are like, the different forms they take, the effects they have on people, and what could be done to prevent them, we’ve created three illustrated short stories about conversion practices in Scotland.

The stories are composites of the accounts of many different survivors, and we’ve included quotes from them throughout to share their first hand experiences of these harmful acts. You can also find links to more survivor testimonies here.

  • Cee’s Story Cee is a young person exploring their gender identity who is sent away to a “wellness retreat” by their parents
  • Abeera’s Story Abeera is a lesbian woman of colour who feels torn between the life she lives and her family’s expectations
  • Bernie’s Story Bernie is a devout Christian whose church does not support him when he discovers his sexuality

See below for more information about the stories.

Cee's Story

Cee is a young person who is exploring their gender identity. While their friends and teachers are supportive of this their parents are not, and send them away to a “wellness retreat for troubled young girls” against their will.

Content note: This story contains descriptions of conversion practices, including quasi-therapeutic practices, and parental abuse.

You can read Cee’s story here. The story was illustrated by GUNK Illustration.

An illustration of a crying woman who looks sad and physically crushed by the speech bubbles hovering above her. The bubbles say "The neighbours hate us. Everyone knows that you're not normal", "We gave up everything for you and this is how you repay us?", "Why don't you want to give us grandkids?", "You'll never live a normal life with another woman.", "Don't you want us to be happy?" Above the image is text which says "Abeera's story", below are the Equality Network and Scottish Trans logos.

Abeera's Story

Abeera is a lesbian woman of colour who loves her family as much as she loves playing football. Just when she feels like she’s hit her stride, her parents tell her that it’s time to grow up and give up her happiness to live a life more in line for what they expect of her.

Content note: This story contains descriptions of conversion practices, including  parental abuse.

You can read Abeera’s story here. The story was illustrated by Dan Swanton.

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.

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.

An illustration of a man falling through a shattered stained glass window. Ghostly figures surround him, touching him and praying over him, flowers growing from the shards of glass. Above the illustration is the text "Bernie's Story" and blow are the Equality Network and Scottish Trans logos.

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