MP hits out over conversion therapy decision
THE UK’s first openly trans MP has criticised the Government’s decision to not include gender identity in the conversion therapy ban.
Bridgend MP Jamie Wallis shared his views on social media just five days after sharing a personal statement regarding his gender identity.
The Welsh Conservative tweeted how he was “bitterly disappointed” by the exclusion of trans people in the UK Government’s legislation after Boris Johnson’s u-turn on his decision, and only banning gay conversion therapy.
The decision has already received nationwide criticism, with Stonewall withdrawing from the UK Government’s Safe To Be Me LGBT+ Conference due to the Government’s “failure to protect trans people”.
Mr Wallis added his voice to the chorus of critics, writing: “I’m bitterly disappointed at the Government’s decision not to include gender identity in the ban on conversion therapy.
“Many have asked what my thoughts are. I’ve always believed that this debate attracts unnecessary hysteria and toxicity, and meaningful results can only come from meaningful debate.
“Understandably, concerns need to be looked at and debated, but it is wrong to exclude protections for a whole group of people from a practice described as ‘abhorrent’.
“I hope the announcement that a separate piece of work will now be done on this issue will be done at speed.
“If the CT [conversion therapy] ban passes through parliament without any protections for the transgender community, it cannot be described as anything other than a broken promise.”
Conversion therapy is the use of methods, such as pseudo-scientific counselling sessions, exorcisms, or being prayed over as a form of “healing”, to change or suppress a person’s sexual orientation.
John Sam Jones from Barmouth was subjected to electro-shock therapy which aimed to “cure” his homosexuality.
These practices are also used in an attempt to make trans people alter their gender identity to correspond with the gender they were assigned at birth. LGBT+ charity Stonewall says: “LGBTQIA+ people don’t need to be cured, and interventions that seek to make a person straight or cisgender can and do cause significant longterm harm to victims. Conversion practice is abuse, and it must be banned, in every setting and for everyone subjected to it.”
The Bridgend MP has described the last week as “monumental” for him personally and has thanked those both locally, and internationally, who have taken their time to support him.
He said: “My inbox has been overwhelmed by supportive messages, especially from my constituents. This support is a reminder of the best part of my job, the people of Bridgend and Porthcawl.”
If the CT [conversion therapy] ban passes through parliament without any protections for the transgender community, it cannot be described as anything other than a broken promise Jamie Wallis MP