UK Conversion Therapy Ban Will Include Trans People
A new law to ban all forms of conversion therapy in England and Wales will include practices aimed at trans people, the UK government has said.
Mental health groups have warned all types of conversion therapy are “unethical and potentially harmful.” Previously, the government said trans conversion therapy would not be included in the ban.
According to the BBC, Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan said in a written statement that the bill would be published shortly and would “protect everyone, including those targeted on the basis of their sexuality, or being transgender.”
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Ms. Donelan says it is a “complex” area and legislation must not “harm the growing number of children and young adults experiencing gender-related distress, through inadvertently criminalizing or chilling legitimate conversations parents or clinicians may have with their children.”
“We recognize 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,” she added.
It is not known exactly how widespread the practice is. Of 108,000 people who responded to a UK-wide LGBTQ+ survey in 2018, 5% said they had been offered some form of conversion therapy, while 2% had undergone it. Of the trans respondents, 8% said they had been offered conversion therapy and 4% said they had undergone it.
Read related myGwork articles here:
UK Government To Announce Law Banning Conversion Therapy
Efforts To Ban Conversion Therapy Gain Global Traction
Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch Delays Ban On Conversion Therapy
All Four Tory Leader Frontrunners Support Trans Conversion Therapy Ban, Says Ex-Equalities Minister
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