Case marks first time a trans person has successfully challenged use of such conversion practices in country

Summary

Ling’er, a 28-year-old transgender woman in China, won a record 60,000 yuan ($8,200 USD) in compensation after being subjected to involuntary electroshock conversion therapy at a hospital.

Her parents admitted her in 2022, opposing her gender identity, and she endured seven sessions over 97 days, causing lasting health issues.

The court ruled her personal rights were violated, marking the first legal victory for a trans person against such practices in China.

LGBTQ+ advocates hailed the decision, highlighting persistent challenges and legal grey areas surrounding conversion practices in the country.

  • NOT_RICK@lemmy.worldEnglish
    79·
    2 days ago

    Ling’er’s doctor claimed in August that she might pose a risk to the safety of her parents if they killed themselves because of her gender identity, according to a report in Chinese media.

    Careful doc, you might pull a muscle reaching that hard.

    • ameancow@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2·
      22 hours ago

      The way many Asian countries view relationships between parents, offspring, and social status is very, very different than what we’re used to in the West, and while it’s all just more social constructs and norms being maintained like we know here, the similarities end there.

      It would take a long to really explain, and several dozen people would chime in to say how their own family and upbringing was different, so it’s not really something you can “teach” but it’s worth pointing out that our normal lense in which we view family is not going to make sense looking at some families in other areas.

    • Apytele@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      44·
      2 days ago

      …then …commit …them???

      Also I was really hoping that they were at least referring to ECT under full surgical level sedation & anesthesia which, while wildly inappropriate for gender dysphoria, would at least be a modern therapeutic intervention (it’s an induced controlled seizure done under complete surgical anesthesia) but no, after reading it sounds like they were basically just wiring her nipples up to a car battery. They don’t state that explicitly but she mentions fainting… wait. She mentions cardiac arrhythmias. That would actually be consistent with the shocks having been applied to the chest area. Jfc.

        • Apytele@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
          9·
          2 days ago

          …nah. I said what I said. Commit them and use unsedated unanaesthetized shock therapy. Sounds like they were willing to sign off on it for their “loved one,” the least they can do is give it a spin for themselves.

    • NateNate60@lemmy.worldEnglish
      13·
      1 day ago

      This is not the right way to put it. She won 60,000 CNY, not 8,000 USD. A “low-wage” worker at a fast food restaurant or a coffee shop in the city earns 20-30 CNY per hour.

      This is a pretty substantial payout by Chinese standards. At the same time, China doesn’t recognise “punitive” damages or “emotional damages” as a thing. The response to the notion of “punitive damages” is “don’t you mean a fine?”, and that to “emotional damages” is that “there is no such thing, you can just get over it”.

    • clickyello@lemmy.worldEnglish
      31·
      2 days ago

      not just trauma but also heart problems that require medication…

      incredibly fucked up but the hospital getting a slap on the wrist is a good first step at least.