Sunak to ban ‘abhorrent’ sexuality conversion therapy
A LAW to ban all conversion therapy will be announced as soon as today as Rishi Sunak reverses Boris Johnson’s decision to scale back the intervention.
Conversion therapy is the practice of attempting to change someone’s sexual orientation or gender. It often takes place in religious settings and has led to accusations of exploitation.
Mr Johnson, when prime minister, vowed to ban homosexual conversion therapy but decided not to do the same for transgender conversion therapy.
This week, the Government is going to make clear that it plans a total ban on both forms of conversion and will make legal changes to enforce the new position.
Hoops remain in Whitehall before the announcement is made, including the final formal sign-off of the position, but the decision is understood to have been made in principle by No10.
A spokesman said: “The Government remains committed to banning conversion practices in this country. To ensure the ban is as effective as possible, we are currently analysing the responses to our consultation.
“To help ensure that victims of this abhorrent practice have the assistance that they need, we have already established a new victim support service.”
Mr Johnson had long spoken out against the practice when he was prime minister, saying in July 2020: “On the gay conversion therapy thing, I think that’s abhorrent and has no place in a civilised society.
“What we are going to do is a study right now on, you know, where is this
‘To help ensure victims have the assistance they need, we have established a support service’
actually happening, how prevalent is it, and we will then bring forward plans to ban it,” he said.
But Mr Johnson altered his position last spring. Leaked documents suggested the ban was being ditched.
Mr Johnson then promised to ban gay conversion therapy but said he would not do the same for transgender conversion , arguing the latter issue was more complex.
It is unclear when the legal change will formally be tabled in Parliament.