Electroshock Therapy to “Cure” Gay People: Shadows of the Past That Still Haunt Our Souls

Context. December 5 on the BBC Out the documentary “Shock Treatment” about a dark chapter in British medical history, specifically the use of electroshock therapy to “convert” LGBT+ people, known as Electroshock Aversive Therapy (ESAT). National Health Service (NHS) Between 1965 and 1973, she subjected hundreds of people to this painful procedure in order to "change" their sexual orientation and gender identity, often coercively. The film tells the story of evidence survivors, including Jeremy Gavins and Pauline Collier, who describe "barbaric" physical and lifelong psychological trauma sustained during adolescence, which has been classified as "torture, not therapy". Investigations prompted the government to launch an official investigation the historical use of ESAT, as well as the policies and the survivors are demanding an official apology from the NHS and the government for the harm caused, while noting that conversion therapy is still not prohibited by law in the United Kingdom.

I’m sitting here on my cozy terrace in Málaga with a cup of tea, trying to process what I saw last night. The BBC documentary “Shock Treatment” isn’t just a story from an LGBT+ history textbook. It’s a punch in the gut, a reminder of how the system tried to burn us out from the inside. More than 250 people—gay men, lesbians, and trans people—were subjected to electric shocks in NHS hospitals in Britain. Imagine this: you’re tied to a chair, and an electric current runs through your body while you writhe in pain—simply because you are who you are. Simply because you don’t love the way you’re “supposed” to.

I didn’t survive that therapy, but every time I hear stories like this, I feel an echo of my own struggle. Take Jeremy Gavins, for example—he was only 17 when he was “treated” for homosexuality in the 1970s. “That’s in the past, but my body remembers,” — he says in an interview with PinkNews. And these aren’t just memories: PTSD, depression, lives in shambles.

What about Pauline Collier? She was strapped to a chair and subjected to electric shocks to “correct” her sexual orientation. “Cruel and sadistic attempts to make me straight,” — That's what she calls it. This isn't some fantasy from *Orange Is the New Black*; it's reality, endorsed by doctors in white coats.

It seeps into the cracks in our mental health today. Consider the statistics—the LGBT+ community is far more likely to suffer from anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts. Why? Because the stigma that has been drummed into us for decades is still here. Conversion therapy is banned in many countries, but in Britain, the government has only just promised an investigation. And in other places—from Russia to some U.S. states—such “methods” are disguised as “therapy.” Even in “progressive” circles, we sometimes find ourselves apologizing for our identity so as not to “shock” others.

But you know, there is a light in this hell. Survivors like Jeremy are now speaking out loud and demanding justice. Lawyers at Hilary Meredith Solicitors are already helping people file lawsuits—this is a step toward accountability. And in therapy? Modern, affirming therapy isn’t about shock therapy—it’s about a warm embrace. It’s when a therapist says, “Your love is normal; your identity is your strength.” Healing is possible, but it requires all of us—from activists to allies—to dismantle the system that broke us.

What do you think? Have you experienced similar trauma caused by “normality”? How can we support one another in 2025 to ensure that the past doesn’t repeat itself? Share your thoughts in the comments—let’s make this conversation heard loud and clear. Because silence is just another form of trauma.

You can watch the movie “Shock Treatment” at BBC iPlayer.