Liverpool’s trans community are “relieved” the new proposed conversion therapy ban will include the whole LGBTQ+ community.
The UK Government announced yesterday, Tuesday, January 17, its plan to publish a draft bill which will “protect everyone” from conversion therapy. The exact details of the Conversion Practices Bill remain unclear, however, it is claimed that the legislation will “not cause harm to children and young adults experiencing gender-related distress”.
Lily-Rose Hunt, chair of the Liverpool Trans support group, explained that while she and the group are glad a ban on LGBTQ+ conversion therapy has been announced, she fears it is being used as “a distraction while they stoke transphobia and division over Scotland’s progressive reforms of the Gender Recognition Act".
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She told the ECHO: “The government in Westminster have unfortunately used LGBTQ+ people in the UK as a political football and messed us around with this proposed conversion therapy ban for many years. We are glad that they are no longer excluding trans people from the ban. However, we must closely monitor the legislation for any loopholes as unfortunately, this Conservative government has proven it cannot be trusted at all to protect the rights and safety of LGBTQ+ people or any minority for that matter.”
Conversion therapy is the pseudoscientific practice of attempting to change an individual's sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. It can include anything from violent electroshock therapy to hypnosis or in the case of The Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministry, which had a branch on Breck Road, Anfield, offering gay people the chance to “cure” themselves of their homosexuality through a relentless prayer session involving three days without food or water.
The British Medical Association has warned conversion therapy can cause “long-lasting psychological harm, substance abuse, or even suicide”, while human rights groups consider it a form of torture.
The draft bill comes after years of delays from the UK government. The first promise to ban conversion therapy was made in 2018 by then-Prime Minister Theresa May. Boris Johnson said he would do the same, however, defended the decision not to include trans people in the ban claiming there were "complexities and sensitivities" which needed to be worked through. Now, as it stands, Rishi Sunak is the fourth Prime Minister to say he will end conversion therapy.
Lily said: “We are ashamed at how since 2019, the UK has become more hostile towards the LGBTQ+ community thanks to this government. We will see it to believe it whether conversion therapy does actually get banned for all LGBTQ+ people. We know that the practice of conversion therapy can be extremely damaging to the lives and mental health of LGBTQ+ people, especially LGBTQ+ young people and we must collectively do everything within our power to stop this evil and abhorrent practice which ruins so many vulnerable lives.”
Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan said in a written statement that the bill would be published shortly and would "protect everyone, including those targeted on the basis of their sexuality, or being transgender". She penned: “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".
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Andi Herring, CEO and co-founder of LCR Pride Foundation, echoed a similar sentiment to that of Lily. He told the ECHO: "While we welcome the government's announcement that the long-awaited ban on all forms of conversion therapy in England and Wales will include the Trans community, we do so with caution. This action was first promised in 2018. Since then we have seen countless u-turns and delays. Just last year the government announced that it was scrapping plans for the ban entirely, before backtracking and returning with a watered-down proposal for a ban that would not include therapy and practices relating to a person’s gender identity.
“In light of these delays and dilutions and also it's recent blocking of the Scottish Gender Recognition Reform Bill, the LGBT+ community has little trust in this government. The Conversion Therapy Ban is a vital piece of legislation that will protect all LGBT+ people from the pain and harm caused by conversion practices and it is a travesty that we have been waiting this long for the ban to be actioned. We now need to see decisive action from the Government to back up their words. The Conversion Therapy Ban Bill needs to be brought to Parliament as a matter of urgency and passed into law without any further delay.”
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