TWO in three adults in Scotland support a ban on conversion therapy, according to a new poll.
The poll was undertaken by YouGov on behalf of LGBT+ organisation Equality Network from February 2 to 7.
It found 66% of Scots support a ban on conversion therapy related to changing sexual orientation and 67% support a ban on conversion therapy related to changing gender identity.
On sexual orientation, only 13% were opposed to a ban, with don't knows at 20%, and on gender identity, only 12% opposed a ban, with 21% choosing "I don't know".
Women were slightly more likely to support a ban for both sexual orientation and gender identity (68% of women support a ban relating to sexual orientation compared to 64% of men, and 69% of women support a ban relating to gender identity compared to 65% of men).
According to the data, parents in Scotland were another group where support was strong for a ban.
Where a parent had at least one child younger than 18 years old, support was at 62% for a ban related to sexual orientation and at 64% related to gender identity. For parents who had at least one child aged 18 or older these figures were 66% and 67% in support.
Support in Scotland has been maintained for a ban on conversion therapy relating to changing a person’s sexual orientation, at 66%, compared to YouGov results in 2022 at 65%.
There has been an increase in support for a ban on conversion therapy relating to changing a person’s gender identity, with a rise from 61% to 67%.
There is also consistent support for a ban across the political spectrum.
For a ban on conversion therapy related to sexual orientation and gender identity respectively, support was high amongst people who voted Liberal Democrat (71% and 73%), Labour (71% and 71%), Conservative (67% and 70%), and SNP (62% and 64%) in the 2024 General Election.
The Equality, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee at Scottish Parliament gathered in 2021 to hear from many survivors and produced a report which recommended a ban. Since then, this issue was brought to public consultation.
The Scottish Government is currently considering the consultation data gathered and is expected to announce next steps soon.
Dr Rebecca Don Kennedy, CEO of Equality Network, said: “We are very happy to see overwhelming support for ending conversion “therapy” in Scotland. We know that these practices, happening across a variety of spaces and in many guises, cause significant mental and physical harm.
"They also perpetuate the notion that to be LGBT+ is something that is wrong and that must be ‘fixed’. Scotland must move forward with ending these practices, so that all lesbian, gay, bi, asexual, trans and non-binary people in Scotland can be free to live their lives without fear, shame, or being subject to what, in some cases, amounts to torture.
She added: "Despite a rise in so-called 'debate' around LGBT+ people’s lives, it is very positive to see that the general public in Scotland support improving the lives of LGBT+ people in Scotland and legislation to end conversion practices is one step towards this.”
Vic Valentine, manager of Scottish Trans, said: “We all want to live in a Scotland where people feel loved and supported, no matter who they are or who they love. It's really encouraging then to see that the majority of Scots are in favour of ending so-called 'conversion therapy'.
"We hope that Scottish Government will finally move forward with the legislation needed to finally bring an end to these harmful practices in our country.”
