In the run-up to the last election, Boris Johnson agreed that a conservative government would ban conversion practices, which include trying to change one’s sexuality or identity, especially in certain religious settings. The government has since consulted on the ban, but activists and some news outlets have suggested that the ban could inadvertently criminalize clinicians and therapists who help people – especially teenagers – who are experiencing gender discomfort. ITV’s Paul Brand revealed last night that the government had abandoned plans to ban it. He published excerpts from a leaked document saying that Boris Johnson had agreed to repeal the law. The document focused on options for announcing the shift, saying an option could be made public at the time of the Queen’s speech, arguing that “there was an urgent need to streamline our legislative agenda” because of the Ukraine War and Crisis. cost of living. (ITV has not released the full document, but its report suggests that this is not the real reason for the bill’s decision to withdraw.) The report provoked a huge reaction from all those involved in LGBTQ + rights, for whom the ban on conversion practices was landmark legislation and a test of the entire credibility of government in this community. Within a few hours the trolley was heading in the other direction again and Brad said he had been told by a senior government source that there had been a partial reversal. Paul Brand (@PaulBrandITV) 🚨 ROTATION IN TURN 🚨 The Prime Minister changed his mind from the back of the reaction to our report and will eventually ban conversion therapy. A senior government source assures me that she will be at Queen’s Speech. But only gay conversion therapy, not trans. March 31, 2022 Paul Brand (@PaulBrandITV) I am told that the Prime Minister was displaced by the reactionary power of the Conservative MPs and ministers when they saw the story unfold. But he has removed trans conversion therapy from the equation and insists that any bill should not have “side effects”. March 31, 2022 There are more details in the ITV update. Our story is here. This morning it is widely referred to as a reversal and the Tory MPs who were particularly outraged by the original story last night have calmed their anger. But there is no detail on what will be included in the bill, and prominent activists are furious that conversion practices are excluded from the law. These are from Stonewall, the LGBTQ + rights group. Stonewall (@stonewalluk) Read the latest update. Keep up the pressure. March 31, 2022 Stonewall (@stonewalluk) The UK Government’s National LGBT Survey found that trans respondents were more likely to have undergone or been offered conversion treatment (13%) than cis respondents (7%). EmailEmail your MP about a ban that leaves no one behind 🚨 March 31, 2022 And this is from veteran fighter Peter Tatchell. Peter Tatchell (@PeterTatchel) Banning non-trans-inclusive conversion therapy is not a real ban at all. It is a shame to exclude trans people from protection against abusive, harmful conversions. Trans people will be at risk of exorcisms, beatings, emotional blackmail and psychological beatings. pic.twitter.com/ywZLnPyDel April 1, 2022 It’s a relatively quiet day, calendar. The Commons does not sit. I try to watch the comments below the line (BTL) but it is impossible to read them all. If you have a direct question, include “Andrew” in it somewhere and I’m more likely to find it. I’m trying to answer questions and if it is of general interest, I will post the question and answer over the line (ATL), although I can not promise to do it for everyone. If you want to get my attention quickly, it’s probably best to use Twitter. I’m at @AndrewSparrow. Alternatively, you can email me at [email protected]
