A proposed ban on abusive conversion therapies targeting individuals who identify as gay or transgender could result in up to a five-year prison sentence and unlimited fines for offenders. This legislative measure, long awaited and now in draft form, aims to prohibit the discredited practices that seek to alter a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
Commonly known as “gay cure therapy,” these practices involve efforts to suppress an individual’s natural sexuality or gender identity. The government plans to establish a criminal threshold for abusive conduct that causes serious harm to the victim, with reported cases ranging from physical assaults to exorcisms.
The proposed Conversion Practices Bill, applicable to England and Wales, was initially a commitment in the Labour Party’s 2024 manifesto. However, the legislative process is not expected to commence soon, making it unlikely for the ban to become law this year.
Research conducted under Theresa May’s leadership, when the ban was first proposed, revealed that nearly 18% of LGBT+ individuals in the UK have been subjected to attempts to alter or “cure” their sexual orientation. Galop, an anti-abuse charity for the LGBT+ community, highlighted that such practices remain prevalent, with a significant number of recent or ongoing cases reported in their support services.
The Office for Equality and Opportunity emphasized that these abhorrent practices persist, subjecting individuals to various forms of abuse, including physical, sexual, economic, and psychological harm. Minister for Equalities Olivia Bailey reaffirmed the government’s commitment to banning conversion practices, emphasizing the protection of LGBT+ individuals from forced changes based on false beliefs.
The President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, Professor Subodh Dave, praised the Bill’s introduction to prohibit these harmful practices while ensuring healthcare professionals can engage in appropriate discussions with their patients. Jasmine O’Connor, co-chief executive of Galop, welcomed the legislation as a vital step in addressing conversion practices and protecting the LGBT+ community from covert abuse.
Bishop of Manchester David Walker of the Church of England acknowledged the Bill as a positive step toward ending practices that have caused long-term harm to LGBT+ individuals, leading to lasting trauma.
