Government criticised for plans to only ban conversion therapy for some people

The government has set out proposals to ban some types of talking conversion therapy.

The practice aims to change a person’s sexuality or gender, and is often used as part of religious practice.

The proposals would ban conversion therapy for anyone under the age of 18, and adults who are vulnerable and not able to consent.

According to the Government Equalities Office, this would protect vulnerable individuals from harmful practices.

However, LGBT groups are concerned this creates a loophole that would allow the practices to continue on adults who consent to them.

Andy Calvert, executive manager of LGBT youth charity, OK2B in Bedfordshire, said:

"The danger is, if we say to people you can do this, we think we have free thinking, but actually no, we are being told who we are and who we want to be.

"And that leads to coercion in a way of indoctrination."

Andy said he has been working with a young man from Angola, who has been in England for three years.

He was forced to flee the country due to the mental and physical abuse he suffered for being gay.

The 16 year-old man told Andy he had been beaten up and locked up in a room to "starve the devil out of him".

Andy said that although such violent efforts to make a person straight are no longer legal in the West, allowing conversion therapy to continue, even when consensual, could cause risks to their physical and mental health.

He said:

"Religion belongs to yourself, and your sexuality and your gender belong to you as well."

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• LGBT
• bedfordshire