Government moves to ban gay conversion therapy – Wales Online
The Government will launch a consultation on how best to protect LGBT people when it bans the “abhorrent practices” of conversion therapy.
The Queen’s Speech, setting out the Government’s legislative agenda, said measures will be brought forward to ban conversion therapy, which can cause mental and physical harm.
In a briefing note from Number 10, accompanying the speech, the Government said it will ensure the action it takes is “proportionate and effective, and does not have unintended consequences”.
It said it will ensure that medical professionals, religious leaders, teachers and parents will be able to continue to have open and honest conversations.
It will launch a consultation before details of the ban are finalised to hear from a wide range of people.
The Government has also commissioned research into the scope of practices and experiences of those subjected to conversion therapy.
A victim support package will ensure victims can access the support they need.
Organisations will be invited to bid to develop such a package, with the Government anticipating that the chosen provider will be in place by the summer.
Ministers have come under fire in recent months over the time taken to implement a ban.
In March, Boris Johnson said ending conversion therapy is “technically complex” but insisted that ministers will “stamp it out” after three LGBT advisers resigned in protest.
Jayne Ozanne, the first of the advisers to quit, cited delays to banning the pseudoscientific process as among her many complaints of ministers.