“My Government will bring
forward… a draft Bill
to ban abusive conversion
practices”
- Conversion practices are abuse, and the Government will
deliver the manifesto commitment to bring forward a
trans-inclusive ban on conversion practices.
What does the
Bill do?
- The Conversion Practices Bill, which will be published in
draft for pre-legislative scrutiny, will seek to fill the gaps
in criminal law to target conversion practices.
- The Government wants to ensure that the criminal law offers
protection from these practices, while also preserving the
freedom for people, and those supporting them, to explore their
sexual orientation and gender identity.
- The Government is clear that the ban must be balanced and
targeted, so as not to impinge on legitimate healthcare and the
range of broader support that those exploring their sexual
orientation or gender identity might seek or receive. It is
also not intended to interfere with people's right to religious
belief and expression.
- There is cross-party and cross-society consensus to see
these practices banned. However, we need to ensure that the ban
is effective in the long-term. The draft Bill will therefore be
put forward for pre-legislative scrutiny, which will allow us
to seek expert views from a range of stakeholders, and inform
the subsequent legislative approach.
- Reports and case studies highlight that individuals are
being subjected to conversion practices today - this is not
just an historical issue. These practices are often damaging
and have long-term impacts. The Government will act to protect
all individuals from harmful and abusive attempts to change
their sexual orientation or transgender identity.
Territorial extent and
application
- The draft Bill will extend and apply to England and Wales.
Key facts
Conversion practices are often hidden, covert, and associated
with shame,
whichresultsinareluctanceofvictimstocomeforwardandthereforemakesit
difficult to ascertain the true extent of the problem. However,
current evidence consistently shows that
conversion practices still happen today.
- A nationally representative survey of 2,000 LGBT+
individuals in Great Britain, conducted by Opinium on behalf of
Stonewall in 2024, found that around one in ten (11 per
cent) had experienced a form of conversion practice in
the previous year.
- A survey of LGBT+ individuals in the UK carried out by
Galop in 2022 found that:
-
Nearly one in five (18 per cent) of LGBT+ people in
the UK have been subjected to someone trying to change,
‘cure', or suppress their
sexual
orientation
or
gender
identity.
-
Transgender respondents were much more likely to
report having been
subjected
to
conversion
practices
(43
per
cent).
- In 2017, the Government at the time conducted the National
LGBT+ Survey. The open access survey received around 108,000
valid responses from across the UK. Of these:
-
Two per cent of respondents reported having
“undergone conversion or
reparative therapy in an
attempt to ‘cure' them of being LGBT,” and a further five per
cent reported having been offered it.
-
Transgender respondents were much more likely to
report having undergone or
been offered
conversion therapy than
non-transgender respondents (13 per cent vs seven per cent).
