Mis-education of Australian Youth: exposure to LGBTQA+ conversion ideology and practises

Lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer and asexual (LGBTQA+) Australians are vulnerable to religion-based attempts change or suppress their sexuality and/or gender identity, including conversion ideology messaging in school-based sex education. Conversion bans currently being debated across the country. This paper reports on a critical survivor-driven study which retrospectively explored Australian LGBTQA+ youth exposure practices both within outside of education settings. It privileges perspectives self-titled ‘survivors’ through use reference group constructivist grounded theory. Qualitative data were collected 20 from practice survivors aged 18 years over, using focus groups 35 individual interviews between 2016 2020. In conversion-promoting religious contexts institutions groups, messages concerning changed as individuals grew older drawn into more/enclosed settings core ‘brokenness’ prevalent. While progressed experience different ways, was characterised by absence any form affirming – enabling itself become (mis)information source. School policy addressing conversion, alongside enhanced provision affirmative age-appropriate education, may mediate this issue.