In Depth:  conversion therapy

Emily Pollok

The Northern Ireland Assembly is taking steps towards new conversion therapy legislation that could result in jail time for “offending” individuals.

The Conversion Practices (Criminalisation) Bill, introduced by Alliance Party Deputy Leader Eóin Tennyson, passed 46 to 29 with 15 abstentions on 28 September. The bill will now proceed to detailed scrutiny.

Emily Pollok

The Evangelical Alliance says the Government’s draft bill on banning so-called “conversion practices” in England and Wales is “deeply concerning”.

The proposed law states that a person found guilty of “abusive conversion practices” could face unlimited fines and/or up to five years in prison.

Nicola Laver

A draft “fully trans-inclusive” conversion therapy bill is to be published, the Minister for Women and Equalities Bridget Phillipson has announced, though no timescale has as yet been suggested.

But the Christian Institute (CI) says government should “ditch its plan” and instead “focus on enforcing existing legislation” and helping victims of genuine abuse to “access justice under the existing legal framework”.

Emily Pollok

One hundred people attended a London conference on 6 January which addressed the UK government’s consideration of a Conversion Therapy Bill and the Church’s response.

The event, titled ‘The MSC Group Introduces James Parker,’ was organised by the Marriage, Sex and Culture Group in partnership with Anglican Mainstream.

Nicola Laver

Parents could be criminalised under Labour's proposed conversion therapy ban, the Prime Minister has been warned, in a letter signed by 140 medics, parliamentarians and other individuals.

The government recently reiterated its determination to introduce a full, trans-inclusive ban on conversion practices. It has said it will be a ‘key immediate’ priority.

Nicola Laver

A full ‘trans-inclusive’ conversion therapy ban is looking imminent – and church leaders are warning the Prime Minister of the threat to mainstream Christian practices, with peers likewise voicing concerns.

In the Lords, several peers expressed disquiet. The Earl of Leicester warned that ‘scaring into silence’ professionals looking after children could lead to unintended consequences for children and young people. The government has said a ban must not cover ‘legitimate psychological support, treatment or non-directive counselling’ and ‘respect the important role of teachers, religious leaders and parents’ – but details are lacking.

Nicola Laver

The Scottish Government is consulting on a far-reaching ‘conversion therapy’ ban on ‘any effort to change, suppress or inhibit a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity’.

The proposals include a new civil protection order that could be used ‘for preventing harm caused by individuals or institutions that conduct conversion practices on a wider scale’.

Nicola Laver

There is increasing optimism that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will drop plans to introduce a conversion therapy ban, five years after it was proposed by former PM Theresa May. However, while some MPs and LGBT activists who have make clear they will increase pressure on the government to introduce a ban, a Christian Institute poll revealed only a tiny proportion of voters want one.

Proponents of a ban are not giving up easily. Dehenna Davison, MP for Bishop Auckland, who is bisexual, told activists at September’s Tory Party Conference Pride Reception – hosted by LGBT+ Conservatives and Stonewall - to ‘be noisy’ in making it known the ban must be ‘followed through’.

Nicola Laver

After a short-lived delay, a conversion therapy ban now looks set to be pushed through the commons. The Government confirmed its plans in the wake of a failed attempt to amend the Online Safety Bill, which had raised concerns that online evangelism could be banned.

A draft bill is expected to be published shortly, but pre-legislative scrutiny could be limited. The culture secretary Michelle Donelan said it would be completed by the end of this parliamentary term, despite acknowledging that it is a complex area. The government said a ban would also cover conversion therapy for those who are transgender.

Nicola Laver

Church leaders could lose their jobs and face re-education and criminal sanctions if far-reaching proposals for a conversion practices ban are adopted by the Scottish Government. Parents found to have engaged in conversion practices could have their rights over their children restricted or removed completely.

A report, published by an ‘expert’ advisory group on ending conversion practices, goes so far as to malign the traditional teaching of ‘the importance of marriage’ as a tool for LGBT suppression. Its proposals, for both criminal and civil sanctions, are trans-inclusive and embedded in gender ideology and have been criticised as ‘entirely divorced from reality’.

Nicola Laver

The consultation on the proposed conversion therapy ban has now closed, and up to the last minute pro-ban campaigners were calling on government to close a ‘loophole’ which would allow individuals who received ‘informed consent’ to a conversion practice to ‘evade justice’.

Stonewall wanted a ban on ‘all forms of conversion therapies in every setting without loopholes’.

Nicola Laver

Children and churches will be affected if a proposed LGBT conversion therapy ban in Wales goes ahead.

And a new report setting out extreme proposals for a ban in England has been backed by lawyers and politicians.

Nicola Laver

A ban on so-called gay conversion therapy has come a step closer in three of the four nations of the United Kingdom.

The Queen’s Speech set out plans for a consultation to take place on how a ban might be introduced in England and Wales.