Religion and transgender experiences of belonging: the impact of conversion practices on trans survivors

Introduction
International research shows that religion-based conversion practices, aimed at changing or suppressing sexuality or gender, can cause long-term harm to mental health and wellbeing. Most research on conversion practices has focused on sexual minorities. In this article, we focus on trans survivors.

Methods
In-depth interviews were conducted with eight trans survivors of conversion practices living in Australia. The study included trans men, trans women, transmasculine, non-binary, and genderqueer participants from a range of religions and cultural backgrounds. Data were analyzed using inductive thematic techniques.

Results
Findings show that participants often felt excluded from family, community, and religious life due to their gender. This sense of exclusion, and fear of loss of family or faith, left participants vulnerable to “conversion ideology” – the idea that their gender is broken but “fixable” with religious intervention. This led some to self-initiate conversion practices, which often involved efforts to enforce cisnormative gender presentation and behavior. The experience of exclusion, efforts to present as cisgender, and the direct effect of conversion practices, caused distress and ongoing trauma for participants. However, for many participants, their gender also opened space to critically reframe their religious teachings and create new opportunities for themselves in religious life.

Conclusions
Cisnormativity is woven into everyday religious life which can make it very difficult for trans people to find acceptance or inclusion within their religious community. Trans people may be vulnerable to conversion practices from a young age. There is a need for greater support for trans survivors of conversion practices.