DCW asks NMC to take action against illegal training on conversion therapy for people of LGBTQI+ community

The DCW took suo moto cognizance of an advertisement circulating on social media claiming that an organisation called the ‘World Congress of Psychologists’ with its Head Office at Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, is conducting a three-month training programme on psychosomatic disorders which started on March 10.

“The organisation appears to have offered training on tackling 47 different disorders and has included homosexuality, lesbianism and transvestism in the same,” said a DCW official.

The commission has asked the NMC that whether the programme is being conducted or was conducted in the past and if so, details of action taken against the organisation, its office bearers and trainers as well as whether their licences have been revoked. A copy of the guidelines/ advisories issued by the NMC banning conversion therapy of LGBTQIA+ persons have also been sought.

“It is an established fact that homosexuality, lesbianism and transvestism are not ‘psychosomatic disorders’. Over 50 years ago, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) issued a resolution stating that homosexuality is not a mental illness or sickness. Conversion therapies are a set of pseudo-scientific practices, targeting the LGBTIQA+ people into changing their sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression,” the commission said.

It further quoted a judgment passed by the Madras High Court and said that any attempts to medically “cure” or change the sexual orientation of LGBTIQA+ people to heterosexual or the gender identity of transgender people to cisgender is prohibited.

“The Court had also directed the National Medical Commission, Indian Psychiatric Society and The Rehabilitation Council of India to take action against the concerned professional involving themselves in any form or method of conversion ‘therapy’, including withdrawal of licence to practise. Pursuant to this order, the National Medical Commission (NMC) declared conversion therapy as illegal and considers it in the category of ‘Professional Misconduct’ and has banned the practice under the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002,” the commission said.

The commission stated that despite these judgments, it is unfortunate that conversion therapy is still prevalent and such programmes as mentioned seem to be organised and advertised.

“It is unfortunate that even in this age, there appear to be organisations in the country who seem to claim that homosexuality, lesbianism and transvestism are ‘psychosomatic disorders’ and need to be ‘cured’ through conversion therapy. This is illegal and perpetuates myths, biases and discrimination in society against the LGBTQIA+ community. Every individual has a right to express their self-identified gender and choose their sexual orientation. The Supreme Court has guaranteed these rights. Stringent action should be taken against organisations who indulge in such criminal acts,” said DCW Chairperson Swati Maliwal.