Consultation to ban conversion therapy for LGBTQ+ people ends today
The consultation was extended from December 20th last year
The period of consultation for the banning of LGBTQ+ 'conversion therapy' run by the UK government ends today (February 4th).
In May 2021, after years of promises, the UK government announced it was looking to bring in legislation that would see it banned.
The law change is designed to stop people offering services that claim to convert people away from their natural sexual or gender identity, and instead put measures in place to offer support to those who've been targeted.
In order to see the full impact of a ban on conversion therapy, a consultation was launched by the government. Due to conclude on December 20th, the consultation was extended until February 4th.
The consultation would also ask those who would be affected by a ban on both sides to provide evidence of how it would impact them, in order to produce an informed decision.
If passed, the ban on conversion therapy would treat the practice like a crime, ensuring physical conversion therapy acts are sentenced appropriately, introducing a new offence for so-called talking conversion therapies.
As well as this, the ban would make sure those found guilty of conversion therapy offences have any profit they obtained from those crimes removed.
To safeguard potential victims' safety, Conversion Therapy Protection Orders would also be introduced if someone is deemed to be at risk of undergoing therapy at home or abroad.
Our sister station Hits Radio Pride delved more into the delays in the history of conversion therapy and its effect on the LGBTQ+ community in the UK in their "Can't Think Straight" series.
LISTEN: "Can't Think Straight" - a series on conversion therapy
Broadcaster Pete Price shares his experience of undergoing "aversion therapy" in the 1960s.
CONTENT WARNING: You may find some elements of Pete's story upsetting
Lui Asquith from the charity Mermaids tells us how trans people are much more likely to be targeted by those offering conversion therapy, and describes the impact it can have on their lives.
Not everyone thinks there should be an outright ban on conversion therapy.
While supporting the idea of a ban, Peter Lynas from the Evangelical Alliance says allowances should be made for consenting adults to ask for help if their sexual orientation or gender identity goes against their religious belief.
MP Alicia Kearns is campaigning in Parliament for a ban on conversion therapy.
She tells our Can't Think Straight investigation why she's so passionate about the issue, and the evidence she's heard that's convinced her a total ban is the only way forward.
This is such a live issue for the LGBTQ+ community, the anti-abuse organisation Galop set up a helpline for people to call if they'd been impacted or affected by conversion therapy.
What the investigation found
As part of the "Can't Think Straight" investigation, it was found that conversion therapy was still being offered in the UK as recently as last year.
Those targeted are often approached by close community or even family members, and once in conversion therapy, people's mental health are often massively impacted. Some of the effects can be long-lasting, with it being so bad to include thoughts of suicide.
Charities are on the frontline of dealing with the impact of conversion therapy, and while the practice continues, there is no robust evidence conversion therapy achieves its desired outcome.
A major issue for the LGBTQ+ community
While some people may believe offering someone a "cure" to their sexual or gender identity is something from the history books, evidence tells us its still a live issue for the LGBTQ+ community.
Evidence from 2017 suggests one in every 20 members of the community has been offered conversion therapy, with 2% actually undergoing therapy.
The figures for the trans community are significantly higher, with 13% of respondents to a major survey saying they'd been offered therapy.
The UK Government itself is clear about whether conversion therapy works, stating: "There is no robust evidence that conversion therapy can achieve its stated therapeutic aim of changing sexual orientation or gender identity"
Despite this, some groups want there to be an allowance for any individual who consents to conversion therapy to be allowed to undergo it.
In the consultation the government references allowing people to access "counselling" about their sexual or gender identity, if it goes against their personal beliefs.
It states any such measures should have consent requirements that are "stringent and robust" and would require the individual be provided with warnings about the potential impacts the "counselling" might have.
Get support if you've been impacted by conversion therapy
Anti-abuse charity Galop have set up a National Conversion Therapy Helpline to support anyone who is being offered conversion therapy, currently undergoing it, or has undergone it in the past.
The number is 0800 130 3335, and lines are open Mon-Fri 10am-4pm