I am writing this as a queer therapist who specializes in religious trauma and cult recovery. I sit with people who are trying to rebuild a sense of self after systems tried to erase them.

This is not abstract for me. It shows up in sessions every week. It shows up in how people speak about themselves, how they regulate their emotions, and how safe they feel existing in their own bodies. I, myself am a queer person who is still recovering from a high control religion I have been out of for many years now.

So I want to be clear. What is happening in the courts right now has direct psychological consequences.

The Supreme Court Ruling and What It Means

On March 31, the Supreme Court issued an 8 to 1 decision in Chiles v. Salazar.

This case challenged a Colorado law that banned licensed mental health professionals from engaging in conversion practices with minors.

The Court held that these bans raise serious First Amendment concerns related to therapist speech. In practice, this opens the door for limits on a state’s ability to prohibit these practices.

Here is the impact. If states cannot regulate this, licensed providers gain more protection to engage in practices that major medical and mental health organizations have already identified as harmful. There were NO mental health professionals consulted in this ruling. 

This shifts protection away from vulnerable clients and toward those in positions of power.

Naming the Practice for What It Is

The term “conversion therapy” suggests treatment.

That is inaccurate.

This is conversion abuse.
This is coercive identity suppression.

These practices attempt to change or suppress a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity through authority, shame, and fear.

From a clinical perspective, the structure is clear.
There is a power imbalance.
There is coercion.
There is removal of autonomy.

That meets the definition of abuse.

What the Data Shows

The harm is well documented.

Research supported by the NIH and large national studies on LGBTQ youth show consistent outcomes.

• LGBTQ youth exposed to conversion efforts are more than twice as likely to attempt suicide compared to those who are not exposed.

• One large study found about 28% of youth exposed to these practices reported a suicide attempt, compared to around 12% who were not exposed.

• Exposure before age 18 is associated with higher rates of depression, anxiety, severe psychological distress, and long term trauma symptoms.

These findings repeat across studies.

This is not a question of belief. This is a question of measurable harm.

What I See in the Therapy Room

People who have experienced conversion abuse do not come in confused about who they are.

They come in after being told who they are is wrong.

They present with:

• chronic shame

• dissociation

• hypervigilance

• fear tied to identity expression

• difficulty trusting their own thoughts and feelings

Many folks have learned to disconnect from themselves in order to stay safe in environments where authenticity historically led to punishment.

That is not identity exploration.
That is trauma adaptation.

The Link to Religious Trauma and High-Control Systems

Conversion abuse often exists within high-control environments.

The patterns are consistent with what we see in religious trauma and cult dynamics:

• authority defines identity

• questioning is punished

• fear is used to enforce compliance

• belonging is conditional

When identity becomes something controlled by an external authority, the nervous system shifts into survival mode.

People suppress parts of themselves to avoid rejection, harm, or abandonment.

That suppression does not resolve distress. It internalizes it.

Book Bans and the Removal of Representation

At the same time, there is a growing push to remove books with queer and trans representation from schools and libraries.

This is not separate from what is happening in the courts.

Representation serves a critical psychological function.
It provides language.
It reduces isolation.
It supports identity development.

When you remove representation, you remove access to self-understanding. I use literature in the therapy space constantly to support my clients and to give them something they can see themselves in, and see someone like them flourishing and thriving.

A young person who cannot see themselves reflected anywhere is more likely to internalize shame and accept narratives that frame them as wrong.

That increases vulnerability to coercive systems, including conversion abuse.

The Ethical Responsibility of Therapists

As a licensed clinical social worker, I am bound by the NASW Code of Ethics.

Three principles are central here:

• self determination

• nonmaleficence

• dignity and worth of the person

Conversion abuse violates all three.

A client cannot exercise self determination if their identity is treated as something to change.

A provider violates nonmaleficence when engaging in practices known to increase suicide risk and psychological distress.

Dignity is undermined when identity is framed as disordered or immoral.

This is not an ethical gray area within the profession.

I am beyond livid as I type this thinking about the catastrophic impacts of this ruling.

The Larger Pattern

When you look at these issues together, a pattern emerges.

Limit access to affirming information.
Remove representation.
Frame identity as dangerous or immoral.
Protect systems that enforce conformity.

This is how erasure operates.

It does not begin with identity disappearing.
It begins with making identity unsafe to acknowledge.

The Psychological Impact Right Now

When your existence becomes a topic of legal debate, your nervous system responds.

I am seeing increases in:

• anxiety and hypervigilance

• emotional shutdown

• identity suppression driven by fear

• internalized stigma

These responses are not exaggerated. They are adaptive responses to perceived threat.

What Ethical, Affirming Care Looks Like

Affirming therapy does not attempt to direct identity.

It supports you in understanding yourself.

It focuses on:

• restoring autonomy

• rebuilding trust in your internal experience

• processing trauma without reinforcing shame

No ethical framework supports attempting to change a person’s core identity.

What Needs to Happen

At the policy level:
States need the ability to ban conversion abuse and protect minors from these practices.

At the professional level:
Mental health providers must adhere to ethical standards and refuse to legitimize harmful practices.

At the community level:
Access to queer and trans representation must remain protected.
Support for queer-led organizations needs to increase.

At the individual level:
Seek affirming care.
Build supportive networks.
Stay informed about policy changes that impact your safety.

Refusing Erasure

This is not about competing beliefs.

This is about whether systems are allowed to override a person’s identity under the label of care.

Queer and trans identities are not conditions.
They are not symptoms.
They are not problems to solve.

The harm comes from systems that insist they are.

📚Free Bookish Canva Templates for Your Feed!

Hello, fellow bibliophiles! Can you believe we’re already diving deep into April? Whether your TBR pile is a leaning tower of paperbacks or your Kindle is working overtime, it’s time to share those reading vibes with the world.

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"I wasn't sure I had one - a belief in any perfect, untouchable oasis. Then again, I had always moved through life a little too skeptically. I'd been raised to mind the gaps. The deceptively small ones. The one you think you can jump, even though you know those that try never make it."

GENRE: Cyber-punk Sci-Fi Retelling (The Great Gatsby)
RATING: 4.5/5
FORMAT: eBook Arc

Review:
A Retelling of The Great Gatsby as a Cyerber punk story? I knew this one was going to be a good one and I'm glad I wasn't disappointed!

I read The Great Gatsby in high school os its been many years now since I've read it and analysed it (meaning I didnt remember all the finer details but knew the overall story enough) and I think Local Heavens is a lovely retelling of it. My favourite parts are that there is an introduction of them vs us and instead of New Money vs Old Money (its still there and a bit more to the background), there's more of a focus on being othered, a POC and marginalised communities.

The concept of corruption, people who are self serving and billionaires who think of themselves only is blended really well with the idea that "third world corporations" and people who want to destroy America are coming back to hurt them. We see this through Tom and how he sticks to so many of his learnings of being morally superior as an Old Money, non-modded American.

And yet, everyone that stands and tolerates Tom's talk is no better. Nick, our narrator, is meant to be someone watching from the outside and someone who slowly fits in and uses his privileges to his advantage. In fact, it is said by Tom that he forgets Nick is "one of them" from third-world nations. I think Nick is our ideal character that essentially becomes a wallflower. He absorbs what happens and tries to minimise the damage by not really being proactive or doing much about it.

I genuinely enjoyed the character development in Nick and how we got to see him change and embrace that he is different. He can't really blend in and do good that way. The ending of the story isn't meant to solve all of the issues that arises throughout but to show a realistic understanding of how using your privileges the wrong way can still be harmful. Nick had one foot in both worlds and you truly see how he changes as a character in the book with everything that happens.

There are so many other themes done beautifully in the story, like chasing your legacy, building a relationship and finding who you are amongst it all, understanding your privileges and doing better and I think K.M. Fajardo did a beautiful job connecting them all while standing true to The Great Gatsby as a retelling.

I think the only thing that would have made the book better for me is if we got a deeper dive into the Sci-Fi element of the book as I really wanted to know more about the mods and the way it all worked (being a diver...etc.). I appreciated that the author wrote about her struggles of getting a balance between her own author voice vs the original works voice in the book. I do think we can see this struggle a little bit throughout the story but K.M. Fajardo's voice is unique, lyrically beautiful and mysterious in just the right moments throughout Local Heavens and it was lovely to be able to read that.

Thank you to the author, publisher and netgalley for the Arc copy in the exchange for my honest opinion.

If you have taken part in any Mia Ballard discussion, I would like you to watch this video, which confirms what many of us suspected.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8wFC1EQ2Yk

This isn't about whether or not Mia Ballard used AI in any part of the book's process.

This is about a witch hunt.

This is about marginalized authors who will suffer the consequences of these witch hunts.

This is about the lack of journalistic integrity.

This is about piracy.

This is about marketing and sales of AI detection tools.

This is about publisher's looking to make money quickly. This is about a publisher's responsibility not only to their authors, but to readers.

This is about book content creators who have enough time to spend making a 3 hour video on a witch hunt, without providing any actual proof, to farm engagement for their otherwise sleepy page.

If your response to this video is "okay, but she still used AI and therefore deserves any and all ramifications" I do not believe you are capable of critical thinking. There are larger issues at hand here than whether or not she used AI.

Yes, Mia Ballard and her career and her mental health are all at the core, but how easily this could happen to anyone else?

Since this situation has been trending, I've seen numerous authors use Mia's downfall to market their own books, " My book doesn't have AI" "Want an AI free book?" "I worked really hard on this all on my own!"

Classless and truly desperate.

I've unhauled every single one and won't ever read them again.

I also think this is going to get much worse. A 3 hour YouTube video dissecting something you think is AI slop? We should not welcome these folks into the book space.

This is about the collective demand for "justice" at the expense of humanity.

You can be staunchly against generative AI use and not be the police.

I had hoped to host the Leans Literary book club on Discord (and we'll get there!), but we're going to start here as I've had technical difficulties and haven't had time to work through them as I'm preparing for a trip.

I'll post my thoughts on the first section of Good People by Patmeena Sabit and some questions here, and feel free to chime in! This post is member only so your comments won't be publicly visible.

This is the schedule I plan on following:

• 4/3 The Hour (pages 1-90)

• 4/10 Things Secret and Open (pages 91-192)

• 4/17 In the Garden and A Witness from Every Nation (pages 193-249)

• 4/24 Judgment Day (pages 251 - end)

Of course, these posts will be available for you whenever you read the book!

So some thoughts on the first section of Good People by Patmeena Sabit:

I love that we're just dropped into this Afghani refugee community and given some information about what is important to them as refugees of war seeking better for their children. You also see some longing for their home, even if that home doesn't exist as it once did. This is something that is even more pronounced in another of my recent reads, The Renovation by Kenan Orhan. And ultimately, if they can't go back home, they find home in one another.

Another thing that stood out to me was the internalization of the "American dream" and the policing of one another when they don't find the success it promises. Of course the American dream has always been a lie, but it can be easy from the outside to attribute difference of outcome to personal character rather than systemic issues.

• What do you think about the Sharaf family?

• How does not hearing from the family directly impact your impression of them?

• Where do you think we're going?

Hi Ifrits,

April is upon us (where is time going!!) and in the US, it is both a SWANA Heritage month and Arab Heritage month together so its the perfect timing for us to read and dive into the stories by Authors within the region 🥰

Resources to find New Reads for this month:

Here are a few helpful links for this month (bare in mind that the 2026 releases lists gets updated periodically too):

• Storygraph Challenge

• GoodReads for 2026 releases

• Pagebound List for 2026 releases

• Story template & Instagram templates (Monthly & genre)

Here's a post that I did in collaboration with Val and the lovely Bec, Dija and Meg from Sleepy Readers Club to spotlight 155 SWANA stories from our Storygraph Challenges!

Ifrits & Ink Book Club Spotlights:

As we are entering a new season, we are going to say goodbye to our old spotlights! This few months have been quieter as I've had a lot happening in my personal life but I am hoping that in the next upcoming year, we can have more fun discussions with all of our spotlighted books🥰

Here's our first Season Spotlight of 2026 and I'll be picking this season's in the next few weeks and sending it out to you guys

Hello Star & Galaxy members!

Since we are 4 months into our monthly Boundless Mail Club and going into our 5th month, I wanted to give you an opportunity to vote on the items / things you enjoy receiving in your mail and understand what most of you are hoping to get out of it.

Please vote for as many options in the poll as you like. And feel free to leave a comment with any other ideas you have (just make sure they’re flat items that could fit in an envelope) or any strong opinions/feedback you have. Thanks so much as always for supporting <3

Vote for my April read!

I’ve talked about this before, but I’m going to talk about it again. Why do so many readers stay inside the same loop of recommendations?

When you engage with one popular sapphic book, platforms feed you ten more that look the same. You are not choosing from the full landscape. You are choosing from a narrow slice shaped by engagement data.

When thousands of readers praise the same books, you feel more confident picking them up. That reduces risk, but it also limits discovery. You miss quieter releases, indie authors, and genre crossovers that do not get mass attention.

Recommendation culture favors speed over depth. People ask for “good sapphic books” and get the same five answers. Few readers ask for what kind of sapphic story they want. Few reviewers explain why a book worked or did not work beyond surface-level reactions.

If you want a richer reading life, you have to push outside that loop on purpose.

Here are six sapphic books that move beyond the usual rotation, with what they offer and where they fall short.

Revel by Bryce Oakley 4 stars
A beachside wedding brings a friend group back together. A reservation mix-up leaves Isla and Freya sharing a single bed, and years of friendship shift into something else.

This novella closes out the Kaleidoscope series with focus and intention. The tension between Isla and Freya carries the story. You feel the weight of their history in every interaction. The pacing is tight because of the length, but the emotional payoff lands. This works as a final note to a series that understands its characters.

The Oblivion Bride by Caitlin Starling 4 stars
Lorelei inherits her family’s legacy after a wave of mysterious deaths. Her uncle marries her off to Nephele, a war alchemist tasked with saving her life. What starts as strategy turns into something personal as they confront a spreading magical threat.

This book leans into intensity. The arranged marriage, the age gap, and the possessiveness all build a charged dynamic between Lorelei and Nephele. The world blends technology and magic in a way that keeps you engaged, even when the rules are not fully explained. The romance carries the story. The ending felt a little rushed, and some plot elements lost clarity, but the emotional core remained strong.

Anywhere You Go by Bridget Morrissey 5 stars
A small-town waitress and a high-powered press agent swap homes after their lives fall apart. Each woman finds unexpected connections and direction in the other’s world. If The Holiday were sapphic this is it.

This is a dual romance that succeeds on both sides. Eleanor and Carson bring emotional depth and directness. Tatum and June offer slow, patient longing and all the sapphic yearning. The structure keeps you invested because you want both outcomes. The characters feel grounded, and the relationships develop with care. This is a romcom that earns its emotional impact.

Cowboys and Kisses by Karin Kallmaker 4.5 stars
Darlin’ survives in a Wyoming town with limited options and fewer protections as a sex worker in a brothel. Years later, she faces the possibility of love and a life beyond survival with the pastor's sister.

This story does not soften its setting. You feel the pressure of a world where women without protection face constant risk. The first-person voice captures both youth and endurance. The romance offers relief without ignoring the cost of getting there. The ending offers hope, balancing the harshness of the journey.

Strange Beasts by Susan J. Morris 5 stars
Samantha Harker investigates supernatural murders in early twentieth-century Paris alongside Helena Moriarty (The daughter of Dracula's killer and Sherlock Holmes villain Moriarty). Their partnership grows under pressure as they track a killer.

This book blends gothic horror, mystery, and feminist themes. The atmosphere is consistent and immersive. Sam’s internal conflict around her abilities adds tension to every scene. The chemistry between Sam and Hel is built through distrust and necessity. The pacing drives the story forward, and the world invites further exploration. This stands out for its scope and ambition. There was more emphasis on the mystery than anything else.

Single Player by Tara Tai
Two game developers clash over whether their project needs romance. Professional tension shifts into something more as they confront external threats and internal defenses.

Cat’s early characterization feels exaggerated, and some choices seem unbelievable. As the story progresses, both leads gain depth, and their shared passion for gaming grounds the narrative. The identity elements lack development and feel thrown in for diversity's sake rather than cultural impact. The book works best as a light, character-driven read rather than a deep exploration of representation.

What this list shows

When you step outside the usual recommendations, you find range. You find sci-fi horror with obsessive romance. You find historical grit. You find dual love stories that balance each other. You find gothic mysteries with feminist stakes.

If you keep reading the same five authors, you miss this range.

A better approach to recommendations

Ask for specifics. Do you want slow burn or immediate tension? Do you want plot-heavy or character-driven? Do you want soft romance or morally complex dynamics?

Track your own reactions. Notice what holds your attention and what pulls you out of a story.

Read across subgenres. Contemporary, fantasy, horror, historical. Each one expands the possibilities of sapphic storytelling.

Support smaller titles. Many of the most interesting books do not trend. You have to look for them. I had never heard of Karin Killmaker until I was rummaging through "available now" titles on Libby.

Your reading life grows when you stop relying on the same loop and start choosing with intention.

I'm hoping to be back more often with short recs like this or round ups like what can be found on my instagram but with more explanation and intention.