Thank you for contacting me about the campaign to ban conversion therapy.

I am committed to ensuring LGBT+ people can live in safety and dignity. I completely agree that LGBT+ conversion therapies must be banned as a matter of urgency. Conversion therapies are exploitative and damaging, and have no place in modern society.

It is deeply concerning that the Ozanne Foundation’s 2018 Faith & Sexuality Survey found that over 58% of people who had experienced attempts to change their sexual orientation had suffered from mental health issues, including anxiety and depression. Likewise, its 2020 ‘Conversion Therapy’ and Gender Identity Survey found that over 92% of people who had experienced attempts to change their gender identity had suffered from mental health issues.

The Government first committed to banning the practice over four years ago. On 30 March 2022, the then Equalities Minister told MPs that plans to ban conversion therapy in all its forms were being taken forward “on an urgent basis”. However, just one day later, it was reported that the plans had been dropped altogether. This was then followed by a further announcement that a ban would be proceeding, but without including transgender conversion therapy.

At no point before this had the Government suggested that it was treating transgender conversion therapy practices differently from those targeting sexual orientation, and I do not believe there is any rationale for the exclusion. Conversion therapy, including on trans people, is an abhorrent practice, with the British Medical Association describing it as an unethical and damaging practice that preys on victims of homophobia, transphobia, discrimination and bullying.

The Government has now shifted its position again. In a Written Statement presented to Parliament in January, the Culture Secretary confirmed that a Bill to ban conversion practices in England and Wales would be brought forward for pre-legislative scrutiny in this session of Parliament that would “protect everybody, including those targeted on the basis of their sexuality or being transgender”. I welcome that commitment, but I believe an explanation is also needed as to why it is taking so long to keep the promise that was made to the victims of this insidious practice. I am also concerned that the Government appears determined to include in its proposals loopholes that will allow adults to ‘consent’ to this abuse on religious grounds.

There is broad consensus from faith leaders across the diversity of our faith communities in the UK that conversion therapy is abuse. In December 2020, a significant cross-faith conference of hundreds of religious leaders from all around the world supported a ban on conversion therapy.

I believe we must introduce legislation, such as protection orders, for people who are vulnerable to pressure to suppress, deny or forcibly change their sexuality or gender identity. Crucially, introducing legislation to ban conversion therapy would allow statutory services to work together to support people in need.

More widely, I welcome that Instagram and Facebook have blocked the promotion of conversion therapy on their sites, and I hope other social media companies will follow suit.