the answer from activists is often "so you arguing in favor of conversion therapy? It has alreay proven not to work!"

Tell them not to conflate conversion therapy for homosexuality with efforts to help people feel comfortable in their own bodies and prevent them from amputating their sex organs and destroying their bodies with cross sex hormones. Most of the children with GID will get over it when they grow up (over 80% in fact). Watchful waiting is the most sensible approach. The number of detransitioners with irreversibly damaged bodies increases because the gender therapists under pressure from the trans lobby,abandoned this principle.