Alicia Kearns MP for Rutland and Melton Announces the Ban on LGBTQ+ conversion therapy, Government has today confirmed it will be a fully inclusive ban
Alicia Kearns Posted:
Ban on LGBTQ+ conversion therapy announced!
bit.ly/3QN0k4n we did it - I have long campaigned to put an end to this heinous practice and I am absolutely delighted that that the Government has today confirmed that they will be doing a fully inclusive ban!
This ban includes trans people and will finish its pre-legislative scrutiny before the end of this Parliamentary term.
It has been heartening to see the level of support behind this ban across Parliament and it is simply fantastic news that will help protect the most vulnerable members of our society.
UK Parliament, Conversion therapy Statement made on 17 January 2023
We recognise the strength of feeling on the issue of harmful conversion practices and remain committed to protecting people from these practices and making sure they can live their lives free from the threat of harm or abuse.
We have had constructive engagement with the Honourable Member for Rutland and Melton on her amendment which seeks to prevent children from seeing harmful online content on conversion practices.
It is right that this issue is tackled through a dedicated and tailored legislative approach, which is why we are announcing today that the Government will publish a draft Bill which will set out a proposed approach to ban conversion practices, this will apply to England and Wales. The Bill will protect everyone, including those targeted on the basis of their sexuality, or being transgender.
The Government will publish the draft Bill shortly and will ask for pre-legislative scrutiny by a Joint Committee in this parliamentary session.
This is a complex area, and pre-legislative scrutiny exists to help ensure that any Bill introduced to parliament does not cause unintended consequences. It will also ensure that the Bill benefits from stakeholder expertise and input from parliamentarians.
The legislation must not, through a lack of clarity, harm the growing number of children and young adults experiencing gender related distress, through inadvertently criminalising or chilling legitimate conversations parents or clinicians may have with their children.
