Theresa May had initially promised in 2018 that the practice, which seeks to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity, would be illegal – and Boris Johnson’s successor also said it would be. However, on Thursday, a government spokesman told Sky News that ministers would reconsider how existing legislation could be used more effectively to prevent the practice, which is illegal in many other countries. He said: “Having thoroughly investigated this sensitive issue, the government has decided to move forward with consideration of how existing legislation can be implemented more effectively to avoid this as quickly as possible and to investigate the use of other non-legislative measures.”
What is conversion therapy?
Also called treatment therapy or remedial therapy, conversion therapy refers to any form of therapy or psychotherapy that aims to change a person’s sexual orientation or suppress a person’s gender identity. Healing and prayer can be used, while more extreme forms can include “exorcisms, physical violence and food deprivation,” said Jane Ozan, a former government adviser on equality. LGBT charity Stonewall says conversion therapy is based on the premise that being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender is a mental illness that can be “cured”. The NHS and other professional bodies have warned that all forms of conversion therapy are “immoral and potentially harmful”. The turn comes one day after the minister’s commitment “The Prime Minister has agreed that we should not proceed with legislation to ban LGBT conversion therapy,” a Downing Street newsletter entitled “Conversion Therapy Management Plan,” seen by ITV News, said. The briefing warns of “noisy reactions from LGBT groups and some MPs when we announce that we do not intend to move forward” – and the LGBT sector will see it “as a sign that the government is not interested in LGBT issues”. And he recommended announcing the overthrow as part of this year’s Queen’s Speech in early May to reduce “the risk of looking like we’ve singled out an LGBT issue.” Instead, the announcement comes just a day after Equality Minister Mike Freer told lawmakers that the government was “absolutely committed” to legislating a ban on conversion therapy. Mr Frier may now resign along with the prime minister’s special envoy for LGBT issues, Lord Herbert, the report said. Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:01 The government is “silent” about the conversion treatment What did the government promise? In the Queen’s speech last May, the government promised to pass legislation banning conversion therapy. “We will ban conversion therapy to prevent these heinous practices that can cause mental and physical harm,” the government promised. “People need to be free to be themselves in the UK. The ban will eliminate coercive practices that cause mental and physical harm to individuals. “We will ensure that the action we take to stop this practice is proportionate and effective and will not have unintended consequences.” Picture: Actor Stephen Fry “Terrible betrayal of an entire community” There was outrage for the reversal, including actor Stephen Fry. He wrote on Twitter: “Just when I thought my contempt for this disgusting government could not fall. A curse for all lies, stinking many of them.” Labor MP Chris Bryant, who is gay, said: “This is a terrible betrayal of a promise and of an entire community. “The so-called conversion healers pray to tender hearts and do countless harm.” The Tory MPs also expressed outrage, with Rutland and Melton MP Alicia Kerns saying she “ran in the election to ban conversion therapy”. “If we do not pass this legislation, people will lose lives,” he added. Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:56 Because trans people are self-healing hormones Caroline Nokes, who asked the government yesterday to confirm that legislation was being passed on conversion therapy, wrote on Twitter: to finish it? “ But some right-wingers in the Tory Party have campaigned against the ban on conversion therapy, saying it could mean children who question their gender could go without allowing parents to challenge their decision. Former Brexit negotiator Lord Frost called the government’s decision to lift the ban “courageous”. “It would be an extremely controversial piece of legislation and a minefield of processes that we simply do not need to enter into right now,” he wrote on Twitter.
