Ministers shelve LGBT business conference over conversion therapy backlash
Over 100 different businesses pulled out of the event
Last updated 6th Apr 2022
Ministers have cancelled a government-led businesses conference in support of the LGBT community, the PA understands.
On Tuesday night (April 5th), it was discovered that the "Safe to Be Me" event, which was due to be held in June, had been mothballed after 100 groups and companies pulled out.
The conference was due to be a landmark summit, as it would have been the first conference of its kind within the UK - due to have taken place on the 50th anniversary of London's first Pride march.
It comes after the government announced it would ban conversion therapy on the basis of sexual orientation.
However, conversion therapy for gender identity was excluded, meaning that transgender people could continue to receive the therapy which aims to suppress their chosen gender identity.
In a statement on the cancellation of the event, Labour MP Emily Thornberry said that the move was "a sickening waste".
But speaking on the event, Health Secretary Sajid Javid said people should tread carefully when talking about the issue of transgender identity.
Raising the issue of children suffering from discomfort of being born in the wrong body, known as gender dysphoria, Mr Javid said medical assessments would still be necessary.
"It is right for medical experts to be able to question the child's feelings, and to determine what the cause might be," he said.
"Is it a genuine case of gender identity dysphoria or could it be that that individual is suffering from some child sex abuse, or it could be linked to bullying."