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EmailAs we near the end of LGBT+ History Month, we are taking a moment to reflect and turn to the future.
Stonewall is proud to have been at the forefront of social change for the LGBTQ+ community throughout history. We’ve helped to abolish Section 28, equalise the age of consent, achieve marriage equality and lift the ban on LGBTQ+ people serving in the military. Now it is time to focus on banning conversion practices once and for all.
This year’s LGBT+ History Month’s theme is social change and activism. We’re taking a look back at one of the biggest campaigns for the LGBTQ+ community in recent years - the campaign to ban conversion practices in the UK.
Along with the Ban Conversion Therapy Coalition, founded and chaired by Jayne Ozanne, Stonewall have been campaigning to end harmful conversion practices for the last six years, and successive Governments have promised to deliver on the ban, and we’ve seen both setbacks and victories. But despite the rollercoaster, one thing has never changed: the commitment of those opposed to this outdated and harmful practice. For years, campaigners have written to their MPs, sent postcards to former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and shared stories. Together, as a broad coalition, we have pushed to make this ban a reality.
What are conversion practices?
Conversion practices include any medical, psychiatric, psychological, religious, cultural or any other interventions that seek to change, “cure”, or suppress the sexual orientation and/or gender identity of a person. You can learn more about conversion practices here.
We often think of conversion practices as something of the past, but they do still happen to LGBTQ+ people living in the UK. In fact, research from the Trevor Project shows that nearly 1 in 6 (16%) LGBTQ+ young people reported being threatened with, or being subjected to, conversion therapy.
It’s unacceptable that these harmful practices remain legal – we believe every LGBTQ+ person deserves to be safe and protected from this abuse.
Many Governments have promised they would ban conversion practices in recent years, but it’s never got over the line. We are urging the current UK Government to take the final step and ban conversion practices once and for all.
What has happened so far?
2018
On 3 July, Prime Minister Theresa May announced an LGBT+ Action Plan and committed to banning conversion practices. However, despite this promise, we didn’t see any progress.
2020
Prime Minister Boris Johnson committed to banning conversion practices and said, “it’s abhorrent.”
In 2020, the Ban Conversion Therapy Coalition was born, with Stonewall as a proud founding member. This Coalition brings together organisations from across the sector, united in their mission to end these harmful practices for good.
2021
Leader of the opposition, Keir Starmer, said the Labour Party were “100% against” conversion practices.
Stonewall, on behalf of the Coalition, encouraged members of the public to let their MPs know how important a ban is. The Coalition also pressed key decision-makers at the time, writing to Mike Freer MP and Lord Herbert to highlight concerns about gaps in the ban proposals, namely around informed consent, religious settings, and trans inclusion.
Momentum built as banning conversion practices was pledged in the Queen’s Speech, with the Foreign Secretary vowing to “legislate [on conversion practices] as soon as possible.”
2022
Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that any conversion practices ban would be trans-exclusive. This was incredibly disappointing, and protests broke out to advocate for a trans-inclusive ban.
For the second year in a row, a ban on conversion practices was promised in the Queen’s Speech.
In June, a Westminster Hall debate on a fully inclusive conversion practices ban took place. Stonewall, on behalf of the Coalition, provided briefings to major parties.
By November, the Coalition took action again, writing to the newly appointed Minister for Women and Equalities, Kemi Badenoch MP, trying to push the conversion practices ban further up the legislative agenda.
2023
The UK Government announced plans for trans-inclusive conversion practices ban in England and Wales. But nothing happened.
In February, the Coalition wrote to the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak after the announcement, welcoming the decision. In March, the Coalition wrote to the Prime Minister again to address ongoing delays with the draft Bill.
In August, Stonewall ran the ‘Dear Prime Minister’ postcard campaign, with nearly 1.4 thousand people writing in to join the call for change.
In November, Stonewall made a statement on the Government’s failure to deliver a ban.
2024
In March, Stonewall created a tool for people to respond to the Scottish Government’s consultation on banning conversion practices.
Fast forward to July 2024: the new UK Government, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, announces a renewed commitment to publishing a draft Bill to ban conversion practices in the King’s Speech. Stonewall welcomes this long-awaited step forward with a public statement.
That same month, Stonewall and the Coalition wrote to the new Minister for Women and Equalities, Anneliese Dodds MP, to congratulate her on her appointment and highlight once again, the urgent need for the UK Government to deliver a comprehensive ban.
It’s time for change, once and for all
It’s been over six years since the LGBTQ+ community and allies were promised legislation to ban conversion practices. Yet, we’re still waiting for a draft Bill.
Last week, Bridget Phillipson, Minister for Women and Equalities, confirmed that the Government will publish a draft Bill for a trans-inclusive ban on conversion practices. We welcome this announcement, but every day of delay puts LGBTQ+ lives at risk.
At a time when we're seeing rollbacks on global LGBTQ+ rights, this long-awaited ban is more important than ever. It’s time for action and no more empty promises; the UK has a chance to make history for the LGBTQ+ community.
We will be ramping up our campaign over the next few months.
If you want to stay up to date with what we’re up to and how you can support the campaign, sign up to our mailing list.
