Stonewall welcomes commitment to end trans ‘cure’

• Memorandum of Understanding against trans ‘conversion therapy’ launched today

• Health professionals commit to ending trans ‘conversion therapies’

• 13 organisations including the UK Council for Psychotherapy, the Royal College of GPs, the British Psychoanalytical Society and Pink Therapy say such practices are unethical

Leading UK organisations today (16 October 2017) committed to ending any attempts to offer ‘cures’ to trans people in a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

The UK Council for Psychotherapy, the Royal College of GPs, the British Psychoanalytic Council and the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy are among the organisations to sign the document.

The new memorandum makes clear that conversion therapy in relation to gender identity and sexual orientation is unethical, potentially harmful and is not supported by evidence.

The latest version is an update to the Memorandum of Understanding which was created in 2015 to condemn the use of so-called ‘gay cures’.

Despite the practice of therapies that aim to change the gender identity or sexual orientation of an individual receiving widespread criticism, some people still claim that sexual orientation and gender identity can be ‘cured’.

The primary purpose of the memorandum is the protection of the public through a commitment to ending the practice of ‘LGBT cure therapy’ in the UK.

       The MoU also intends to ensure that:

• the public are well informed about the risks of conversion therapy
• healthcare professionals and psychological therapists are aware of the ethical issues relating to conversion therapy
• new and existing psychological therapists are appropriately trained
• evidence into conversion therapy is kept under regular review
• professionals from across the health, care and psychological professions work together to achieve the above goals.

Ruth Hunt, Chief Executive of Stonewall, said: ‘Trans identities are not something to be ‘cured’ or changed. Stonewall is today delighted to join counselling and psychotherapy bodies across Britain to support a Memorandum of Understanding, which makes clear that any attempt to change a person’s gender identity through therapy is unethical. Trans people seeking support need to be accepted for who they are, not subjected to prejudice and harmful practice.’