UK’s ban on conversion practices

The government has issued an intent to have a draft bill on conversion therapy and plan to act on it by October 2023. It recognises that pre-legislative scrutiny is required to ensure that it protects everyone. Michelle Donelan, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport , writes:

This is a complex area, and pre-legislative scrutiny exists to help ensure that any Bill introduced to parliament does not cause unintended consequences. It will also ensure that the Bill benefits from stakeholder expertise and input from parliamentarians.

The legislation must not, through a lack of clarity, harm the growing number of children and young adults experiencing gender related distress, through inadvertently criminalising or chilling legitimate conversations parents or clinicians may have with their children.

The Muslim community responded to the consultation on a ban to conversion therapy. We put forward the definition:

“A practitioner coerces an individual to change or supress their sexual/gender identity, without the individual’s consent, causing harm.”

Hundreds of leaders from across the mosques in UK signed this. However, there has not be a response published by the government regarding the consultation.

Since the UK government hasn’t yet settled on a definition to conversion practices, it has put many at concern. Individuals who come from a faith or non-faith background, who want professional support with exploring opposite sex attractions or gender congruence can be impeded from doing so through the law.

A common understanding of “conversion therapy” thinks it is impossible for individuals to move away from a sexual identity. It promotes the myth that sexual orientation is fixed and immutable throughout the lifespan.

The government has also included gender identity within the ban, which is different from sexual identity and encourages medical transition or an affirmative only model.

Without a clear definition or draft bill, it is difficult to assess whether the law may have unintended consequences. We await further developments and encourage a bill that is inclusive of all groups.