Key Takeaways:
– Ling’er, a Chinese transgender woman, was awarded 60,000 yuan (approximately $8,300) for unconsensual electroshock therapy sessions.
– The hospital erroneously labeled her transgender status as an ‘anxiety disorder and discordant sexual orientation.’
– She hopes her experience will pave the way for changes in the treatment of the LGBTQ+ community in China.
– Legal ambiguity in China clouds the effectiveness of action in cases related to LGBTQ+ conversion therapy.
Expanding Transgender Rights in China Through Legal Action
A courageous 28-year-old transgender woman, operating under the pseudonym Ling’er, has received a winning verdict against a hospital that subjected her to forced electroshock therapy. The hospital, which Ling’er’s parents admitted her into, conducted the damaging therapy under the pretext of treating an ‘anxiety disorder and discordant sexual orientation.’
At Face Value
Ling’er’s court victory doesn’t just signify a personal triumph. It holds the potential to bring changes in the treatment and perception of the LGBTQ+ community in China. Her victory resonates with her hopes of introducing protective measures and human rights for the transgender community in her country.
“As a result of my experience, I hope that the transgender community will soon possess safeguard measures and fundamental human rights. It’s high time that our community is no longer victimized by medical treatment,” Ling’er stated.
Trials and Tribulations
Around a year post revealing her gender identity to her parents, Ling’er was admitted to a hospital due to their opposition and belief that she wasn’t mentally stable. During her 97-day stay, the hospital subjected her to seven rounds of forced electroshock treatment.
“It caused severe damage to my body,” Ling’er revealed. She added that the therapy led her to develop heart problems, which continue to require ongoing medication.
Pushed and Prodded
Electroshock therapy is not new, albeit its use to ‘correct’ a person’s gender identity is dubious and highly damaging. The treatment, which Ling’er said aimed to make her conform to societal expectations, caused her to faint during each session.
The offending hospital, despite Ling’er’s severe physical repercussions and the recent court ruling, has declined to comment.
Legal Gray Areas and Conversion Therapy
Despite China acknowledging homosexuality by removing it from official lists of psychiatric disorders in 2001, the law remains ambiguous about LGBTQ+ conversion therapy. Ling’er’s case may now serve as a notable landmark, reinforcing the call for legal clarity made by Human Rights Watch in a 2017 report.
The report underscored a common occurrence in China—family members forcibly admitting LGBTQ+ individuals to hospitals for conversion therapy. This reality underscores the pressing need for legislative action to safeguard the rights of the LGBTQ+ community in China.
Victory and Hope for the Future
For Ling’er, the court’s verdict not just mirrors her personal triumph but also serves as a symbol of hope for the LGBTQ+ community in China. The compensation she received stands as a milestone and deterrent against conversion therapies for the stance they can potentially force in litigation.
“I feel positive about my victory,” Ling’er told media outlets. “My wish is for this case to prove useful for addressing transgender cases in China in the future.”
The landmark ruling won by Ling’er underscores the need for more definitive action in promoting and protecting the rights of the LGBTQ+ community within China’s boundaries. Her victory serves as inspiration not just for transgender individuals, but also for anyone striving to assert their rights under ambivalent and unfair legal systems.