Government Set To Ban Conversion Therapy In Queen’s Speech

The government has outlined its plans to ban conversion therapy.

The controversial practice - which attempts to change sexual orientation or identity - is finally set to be banned, with the new law revealed in the Queen's Speech on Tuesday morning.

The ban is set to cover England and Wales.

Addressing the issue in the Queen's Speech in the House of Lords today, Her Majesty said: "Measures will be brought forward to address racial and ethnic disparities and ban conversion therapy."

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Back in 2018, prime minister at the time, Theresa May, promised to ban conversion therapy, with current prime minister Boris Johnson explaining last summer that plans for the ban were set to be brought forward.

"On gay conversion therapy, it's absolutely abhorrent and has no place in a civilised society," he told ITV.

However, Stonewall - an LGBT charity - has been urging the government to "stop dragging its feet".

On the charity's website, they explain: "Conversion therapy includes medical, psychiatric, psychological, religious, cultural or any other interventions that seek to erase, repress or change the sexual orientation and/or gender identity of a person.

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"Stonewall's LGBT in Britain - Health Report found that one in twenty LGBT people (five per cent) have been pressured to access services to question or change their sexual orientation when accessing healthcare services.

"It's time for conversion therapy to be eradicated. We have an opportunity to secure a full, legislative ban which makes conversion therapy illegal: Wherever it occurs - in public or private, through healthcare or religious and cultural interventions.

"Whoever is targeted - whether a child or an adult, whether they are coerced or have consented.

"From the moment it's spotted - through advertising on and offline."

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The proposed ban has been welcomed and celebrated across the country, with one person writing on Twitter: "So happy to hear that the Queen has said that we are finally going to ban conversion therapy. A step in the right direction."

While another added: "Government to bring forward plans to ban conversion therapy, its well overdue but welcome to hear!!"

"Fantastic to hear legislation is being brought forward to ban conversion therapy. A practice that aims to repress, cure or change an individual's sexual orientation has no place in this country," another tweeted.

Topics: government, News

Lucy Devine

Lucy is a journalist working for Tyla. After graduating with a master's degree in journalism, she has worked in both print and online and is particularly interested in fashion, food, health and women's issues. Northerner, coffee addict, says hun a lot. Get in touch at [email protected].