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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Politics
Lizzy Buchan

UK to ban conversion therapy for all - after U-turn on exclusion of trans people

Rishi Sunak has revived plans to ban conversion therapy after Boris Johnson ditched moves to outlaw the vile practice.

The Government will publish draft legislation setting out its plans for a ban on conversion, which forces people to change or deny their sexuality.

The new bill will outlaw attempts to convert people from their sexuality and gender identity in England and Wales - a shift from previous attempts to exclude trans people from the legislation.

It comes after the PM triggered a major row when the UK government blocked Scottish plans to make it easier for people to change their legal gender.

Mr Sunak is the fourth Prime Minister to say he will end conversion therapy, which can include prayer and talking therapies or even exorcism in the most extreme cases.

Boris Johnson U-turned on plans to ban conversion therapy (PA)

Theresa May originally promised to bring in a ban in 2018 and her successor Mr Johnson also vowed to outlaw it before backtracking.

Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan said: "We recognise 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 said it is right the issue is tackled "through a dedicated and tailored legislative approach", adding: "The Bill will protect everyone, including those targeted on the basis of their sexuality, or being transgender."

Ms Donelan said the draft Bill will be scrutinised to help ensure the legislation does not cause "unintended consequences".

She added: "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."

Campaigners have been demanding a ban on conversion therapy for everyone (Manchester Evening News)

Under the initial plans, proposals were intended to protect all LGBT people.

But Mr Johnson dramatically dropped the legislation last year and ordered the Government to see how the existing law could be applied more effectively.

Within hours, a furious backlash forced him into a hasty retreat.

But he defended the decision not to include trans people, saying there were "complexities and sensitivities" which needed to be worked through.

Critics told the Government to stop making "pathetic excuses", protesters took to the streets and so many LGBT+ groups pulled out of the Government's landmark LGBT conference that it had to be cancelled.

Senior Tory Alicia Kearns, who has been pushing for ban, said she was delighted it was "finally happening".

"We have a timeline, we know it's going to be a fully inclusive ban and I am really delighted, because it is right that we end this heinous crime that allows charlatans and quacks to prey on some of the most vulnerable members of our society," she said.

Nancy Kelley, chief executive of Stonewall, welcomed the statement, but noted that there had been "delay after delay" since the Government first promised to ban conversion practices in 2018.

She said: "The UK Government must publish the Bill and an imminent timetable as soon as possible.

"The UK Government's own National LGBT Survey shows that 13 per cent of trans people, and seven percent of all LGBTQA+ people have undergone or been offered so-called conversion therapy. Our communities simply cannot face any further delays."

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