METRO Charity are joining the call for to the UK Government to publish the draft Bill of a trans-inclusive conversion therapy ban immediately, and bring forward the final Bill by the King’s Speech in November.
'Conversion therapy' is a misleading term. Historically it was intended to stop same-sex attraction, and more recently has also been directed at trans and gender-diverse people. A coalition of over 25 health, counselling and psychotherapy organisations joined together to state:
"Conversion therapy is the term for therapy that assumes certain sexual orientations or gender identities are inferior to others, and seeks to change or suppress them on that basis...conversion therapy in relation to gender identity and sexual orientation (including asexuality) is unethical, potentially harmful and is not supported by evidence."
In July 2018 the UK government pledged to ban conversion therapy for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people. However the government has still not passed this protection into law and, in April 2022, even dropped protections for trans and non-binary people from the draft Bill. After outrage from LGBTQ+ organisations and healthcare professionals, the UK government indicated that they would again include trans and non-binary people in the conversion therapy ban in January of 2023. However it has now been five years since the original pledge, and the Bill has not yet been brought into law.
Director of External Affairs, Mark Delacour said: "We have waited 5 years too long for this promised change to be delivered. No more delays. No loopholes. It is vital that action is taken now. Until a fully inclusive ban is put into place, LGBTQ+ people remain at risk of life-changing harm from these so called 'therapies'."
Looking to take action? Visit the Stonewall website, and use their useful tool to email your MP today.