Playful Stands with the EU Initiative to Ban Conversion Practices

It’s 2025 and queer people across Europe are still being subjected to so-called “conversion therapy.” A new EU-wide initiative is fighting to change that — and at Playful, we’re backing it all the way.

At a time when the political climate across Europe is hardening for queer and trans people, it's not enough to celebrate Pride once a year. Platforms like Playful are rooted in creative freedom, and unapologetic expression. That’s why we’re using our voice to support a powerful new European Citizens’ Initiative: a petition calling on the EU to finally ban conversion practices across all member states.

What’s at stake

Conversion practices — sometimes falsely marketed as therapy or healing — aim to "correct" someone's sexual orientation or gender identity. In reality, they’re acts of psychological manipulation, coercion, and often outright abuse. Whether performed under religious, medical, or cultural disguises, these so-called “treatments” are not only scientifically debunked — they’re a form of torture, as classified by the United Nations.

Behind this new EU-wide initiative is ACT (Against Conversion Therapy), a legal entity based in France, with a team of LGBTQ+ activists and allies from across the continent. Their aim is crystal clear: for the European Commission to propose legally binding legislation that bans conversion practices and criminalizes their promotion, performance, or advertisement.

The facts are disturbing

In Sweden alone (our Founders roots), 16% of LGBTQ+ youth report having felt pressure to change who they are — and 5% have faced actual harm or threats. A UK government report found that 2% of LGBTQ+ people had undergone conversion “therapy” at some point. In the US, the number of victims is estimated to be around 700,000.

These numbers are horrifying, but they only scratch the surface. Many victims never report what they’ve been through — due to shame, trauma, or fear of retaliation. And in several EU countries, such practices remain legal, unregulated, and deeply embedded in religious or conservative institutions.

Why this matters to us

Playful Magazine was born out of underground culture — a space where queer, trans, and non-binary people have always been pioneers. Our work celebrates gender diversity, sexuality, and self-expression in all its forms. We’ve seen firsthand how vital safe spaces and visibility are. We’ve also seen how easily those can be threatened.

How you can support

To succeed, the initiative needs to collect at least one million signatures from EU citizens — and hit country-specific minimums. Countries like France, Finland, and Spain have already passed their thresholds. Others, including Germany and Sweden, are still lagging behind.

If you're an EU citizen, you can sign the petition online in less than a minute. No matter which country you live in, your voice counts. And if you can’t sign, share it. Talk about it. Refuse to let this issue be silenced.

In a time when trans and queer rights are being rolled back in parts of Europe, we refuse to stand by. We stand with our community. We stand against conversion practices. And we stand for a future where being yourself isn’t just accepted — it’s protected by law.

Sign the petition here.