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EmailNew research commissioned by Stonewall has uncovered the shocking scale of conversion practices in Great Britain; interventions that seek to change, cure, or suppress an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity.
This new data comes as the UK Government has committed to publishing a long-awaited draft Bill for a fully inclusive ban on conversion practices this spring.
At Stonewall, we have campaigned for a ban on conversion practices for the past five years, and we're calling for a fully inclusive ban that protects all LGBTQ+ people from harm, without loopholes that would allow these harmful practices to persist.
In 2020, Stonewall helped to found the Ban Conversion Therapy Coalition, founded and chaired by Jayne Ozanne. The coalition brings together LGBTQ+ organisations, faith groups and others to campaign for an inclusive ban.
Research reveals alarming range and scale of experiences
Our new research reveals the pernicious impact of conversion practices on LGBTQ+ people in Great Britain. The data, which covers reports of physical assault, pseudo-scientific counselling, prayer as a form of healing, ‘corrective rape’, exorcism, community exclusion and more, indicates that these practices remain widespread.
In total, nearly a third (31 per cent) of LGBTQ+ people in the Great Britain–wide survey report that they’d experienced one or more of the attempts to change/alter their gender identity or sexual orientation outlined below:
- Nearly one in five (17 per cent) of LGBTQ+ people have experienced physical assault aimed at altering their gender or sexual identity
- Over one in ten (12 per cent) of LGBTQ+ people have experienced pseudo-scientific counselling sessions
- Over one in ten (12 per cent) of LGBTQ+ people experienced ‘corrective rape’/sexual assault
- Nearly one in five (17 per cent) of LGBTQ+ people have experienced prayer as a form of healing
- One in ten (10 per cent) of LGBTQ+ people have experienced ‘exorcism’
- Just over one in ten (11 per cent) of LGBTQ+ people have experienced being told to ingest ‘purifying’ substances
- One in five (19 per cent) of LGBTQ+ people experienced exclusion from family, social or community activity
- 15 per cent of LGBTQ+ people have been threatened with homelessness in an attempt to change/alter their sexual orientation or gender identity
- Almost two in five (38 per cent) of trans and non-binary people have experienced physical assault to change/alter their sexual orientation or gender identity. The same proportion of trans and non-binary people (38 per cent) have experienced family, social or community exclusion to change/alter their sexual orientation or gender identity
- Nearly one in five bisexual people (17 per cent) have been threatened with homelessness in an attempt to change/alter their sexual orientation or gender identity.
What are conversion practices and why do they need to be banned?
Conversion practices are any interventions (including medical, psychiatric, faith based, cultural practices) that seek to change, “cure” or suppress someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity. This could involve a wide range of scenarios, including pseudo-scientific counselling sessions, being induced to ingest “purifying” substances, threatening a person with homelessness, corrective rape, being prayed over as a form of healing and exorcism. Learn more about conversion practices here.
Since 2018, successive UK Governments, and four Prime Ministers, have promised to ban conversion practices, yet no Government bill has been produced. Experiencing conversion practices causes long-term psychological harm to victims - and every day they remain legal places LGBTQ+ people at risk.
As the current UK Government prepares draft legislation, we're calling for a comprehensive, fully inclusive bill that bans conversion practices for all LGBTQ+ people. This must include trans people who are most likely to experience conversion practices.
It is vital that the ban is not ‘watered down’ in any way that might protect perpetrators, including eliminating any potential loopholes. No bill should allow abusers to deflect or deny the harm of their actions.
Simon Blake, CEO of Stonewall, said:
“Each day that conversion practices remain legal, they continue to cause untold suffering to LGBTQ+ people across the country – placing LGBTQ+ people at risk of harm. These alarming figures shed light on just how common these practices remain, despite often being hidden from public view or scrutiny.
“Behind this data are people who have been told that their sexual orientation and/or gender identity are wrong, that they need to be ‘cured’ or ‘fixed’. The long-overdue UK draft bill must protect all LGBTQ+ people through a fully inclusive ban that gives perpetrators no room to deny the severity of their actions and provides a path to justice for victims.”
“Banning these practices is also a step towards the United Kingdom regaining its status as a global leader in LGBTQ+ rights, after falling from 1st to 15th place for LGBTQ+ friendly laws and policies in Europe, in just a decade. We can and must do better and a strong and inclusive bill is a vital part of restoring trust with LGBTQ+ Britons."
Matthew, who has lived experience of conversion practices, said:
“Conversion practices go beyond simply targeting someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity; they cause you to doubt yourself and lose trust in who you are. The effect that my experiences have had on my own mental health, causing anxiety, isolation and depression is something no one should have to endure. At a time of rising hostility towards LGBTQ+ people, the UK Government has a chance to take a stand and protect our communities from cruelty and abuse.”
Find out how you can support our campaign.
Share your story
If you have experienced conversion practices and would like to share your story as part of our campaign, please complete this form and a member of our team will be in touch.
Find support
If you have experienced conversion practices or are affected by this story, there is help out there:
- Galop: 0800 999 5428 or help@galop.org.uk
- Switchboard: 0800 0119 100 or hello@switchboard.lgbt
