Tracking the backlash against women and LGBTIQ people
Undercover investigations
Diana Cariboni
openDemocracy
Latin America Editor
Crisis pregnancy centres - misinformation and emotional manipulation
US Christian right groups caught providing ‘conversion therapies’ in 3 countries
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Why go undercover?
To avoid exposing women
Abortion legal status
Global reach and scale
US, Guatemala and Costa Rica
4 undercover reporters
6 mental health professionals
therapy sessions
paid online with credit cards
Reporters posed as young gays or lesbians under pressure to “correct” their sexual orientation
They were told:
“Give up sex”
“Deny yourself food and drink and pray”
Homosexuality is “a distorsion caused by Satan”
:
Therapy sessions even in US states where conversion therapy is restricted
Why go undercover
:
Survivors rarely identify the groups or individuals responsible:
Ethical aspects of our work
don’t expose or re-victimise people
don’t expose volunteers rank-and-file staff
activists
expose wrongdoing activities
expose organised groups involved
in these activities
Right to reply to
a detailed list of allegations
Before publication
Robust legal review under UK (and other countries) defamation laws
Tips
Tips
SEPTEMBER 2023
Diana Cariboni
diana.cariboni@opendemocracy.net
THANK YOU!