A draft bill to ban LGBTQ+ conversion practices has been published by the government, marking a major step towards ending the cruel process.
So-called conversion ‘therapies’ are a discredited method of attempting to change a person’s sexuality or gender identity, often against their will.
This can be as subtle as a prayer, but can also involve extreme abusive behaviour such as exorcism or physical violence.
A ban on the practice was first proposed under Theresa May’s Conservative government, but the move was pushed back repeatedly until it was dropped from the King’s Speech under Rishi Sunak.
Labour’s 2024 manifesto pledged to deliver a ‘a full trans-inclusive ban on conversion practices, while protecting the freedom for people to explore their sexual orientation and gender identity’.
The draft bill, which would apply to England and Wales, would make it a crime to ‘carry out abusive conversion practices that cause serious harm, alarm or distress to the victim’.
It would also introduce an offence of ‘encouraging or assisting an abusive conversion practice performed outside England and Wales’.
Those found guilty could face imprisonment for up to five years, an unlimited fine, or both.
Saba Ali, the Chair of the Ban Conversion Practices Coalition, said the move was ‘significant and welcome step forward’, but also ‘long overdue’.
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She said: ‘This moment belongs to a movement. Over eighty coalition organisations, countless survivors, clinicians, faith leaders, Parliamentarians and campaigners have refused to let this be forgotten.
‘Today proves what we achieve when we stand together.’
The publication of a draft bill means it can be consulted upon more widely before it formally begins the Parliamentary process towards becoming a new law – but this also means there will be a longer wait for it to take effect.
This decision was taken because it is a ‘complex legal area’, the government said, adding it hopes to ‘build a genuine consensus around a ban’.
Labour MP Kate Osborne previously told Sky News she thought ministers had ‘every intention of pushing this through as soon as possible’.
The draft ban, which comes in the final week of Pride Month, contains exemptions for legitimate healthcare, allowing for ‘free and open conversations about sexuality and transgender identity’.
It also sets a ‘high bar for criminality’, with only ‘acts that are abusive, seeking to change someone’s identity, and create real harm to the person’ in scope.
The government said this would ensure it will not become illegal to question someone’s identity or have ‘explorative conversations’.
Equalities Minister Olivia Bailey said: ‘Conversion practices are driven by the false belief that being LGBT+ is shameful and can be forcibly changed.
‘No-one should face abuse just because of who they are. That’s why we are delivering on our manifesto commitment to ban abusive conversion practices.’
Current legislation covers domestic violence, coercive control and communications offences, but the government argues these leave loopholes that can be exploited by perpetrators of conversion practices.
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