Chinese Transgender Woman Wins Landmark Case Over Forced Electroshock Therapy

Ling’er, a 28-year-old trans woman, receives record compensation after being subjected to involuntary conversion therapy in a psychiatric hospital.

Ling’er was awarded 60,000 yuan by the Changli County People's Court in Hebei for the harm caused by seven sessions of electroshock treatment in 2022.
The treatments were administered without her consent after her parents opposed her gender identity and admitted her to a psychiatric hospital.
Ling’er suffered severe physical harm, including ongoing heart issues, as a result of the electroshock therapy designed to 'correct' her gender identity.
This is the first successful legal challenge in China by a transgender individual against conversion therapy practices, a significant milestone for LGBTQ+ rights in the country.
Activists view the ruling as a breakthrough, highlighting the lack of protections for transgender individuals in China and the persistence of conversion therapy in legal grey areas.