In an open letter received by ITV News, they added: “To allow those who discern this journey to be subjected to coercive or subversive practices means to make prayer a means of manipulating a person. “It’s a misconception about care and a misconception about conversion. Every church should be a safe place that reassures people that they are who they are, without fear of crisis. “We see no excuse for banning so-called ‘conversion therapy’ that excludes trans people.” The intervention of Lord Williams, who was Archbishop of Canterbury from 2002 to 2012, along with 13 other religious leaders, came after a series of upheavals by the government.
Reaction to the reversal of Number 10
Last week, it was revealed that No. 10 was planning to lift the ban on conversion therapy. Hours later, however, she made a partial reversal of her commitment to ban the practice, but did not include trans conversion therapy. The move provoked reactions against both the repeal of the legislation and the exclusion of trans people. It is understood that ministers and officials from the Government Equality Office met for crucial talks on Monday on whether conversion therapy would be included in the scope of the ban. However, No. 10 rejected it. Gendered Intelligence, the national trans charity, announced that it was boycotting Safe To Be Me and introduced its protest hashtag, #UnsafeToBeMe. Stonewall also said it would withdraw from the conference “because of its failure to protect trans people”. Jayne Ozanne, founder of the Ozanne Foundation and a former member of the government’s now-disbanded LGBT Advisory Committee, said she would also withdraw her support for the conference, saying she was “terrified” by the lack of inclusion. Ms Ozanne, a lesbian who has fallen victim to conversion therapy, said: “The UK government is choosing to wage a cultural war instead of protecting some of the most vulnerable in our society.” He added that the United Kingdom “is the only country that has fallen into the lobby of being judged in this way.”
“Government heavily armed with manipulation campaigns”
However, Andrea Williams, chief executive of Christian Concern, said: “The government is heavily armed with manipulation campaigns instead of pursuing its own inquiry into the need for further legislation. The fear of upsetting the privileged lobbyists is so deep that the prime minister capitulated within a few hours. “No one is in favor of forced conversion therapy, which is already illegal. The government’s proposals would simply prevent people from seeking the change they want to see in their lives. “This is a basic freedom that the government should not try to take away.” Jamie Wallis, who emerged as the first trans MP last week, said he was “very disappointed” with the government’s decision not to include gender identity in the ban on conversion therapy. Bridget, a Conservative MP, tweeted Monday night:
