Britain will move to ban conversion therapy

Britain will move to ban conversion therapy and support to those in the LGBTQ community who have undergone the discredited treatment, as part of its post-pandemic government agenda.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government said measures would be introduced to prevent these “abhorrent practices which can cause mental and physical harm,” starting with a consultation on how best to protect people and how to eliminate the practice.

Former Prime Minister Theresa May vowed in 2018 to eradicate the coercive procedure that aims to suppress someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity.

Setting out the new parliamentary agenda in a briefing document alongside the Queen’s Speech in the House of Lords, the government stated: “We will ensure medical professionals, religious leaders, teachers and parents can continue to be able to have open and honest conversations with people.”

However some religious leaders say that a national ban could stifle pastoral support including prayer. It was estimated in a national survey that in more than half of the cases the therapy was conducted by faith organizations.