Today Officers of the APPG on Global LGBT+ Rights wrote to the Minister for Women and Equalities calling for urgent action to end so-called “conversion therapy”.
Although the UK Government has repeatedly committed to end this abhorrent practice - condemned across the world by medical professionals, human rights experts, and religious leaders - the Officers of the APPG are becoming increasingly concerned by the lack of actual progress since the announcement of the policy to ban this practice almost two years ago. So-called “conversion therapy” is a dangerous and cruel practice which has an ongoing and devastating impact on the wellbeing of those who have been subject to it. The complexities involved in creating a robust and holistic plan to end so-called “conversion therapy” is not an excuse for inaction.
Crispin Blunt MP, Chair of the APPG on Global LGBT+ Rights said:
The UK must legislate without delay to ban so-called “conversion therapy”. Delay leaves vulnerable people, meeting what for most is the most profound self-identification challenge of their lives, at the mercy of every conceivable type of quack and religious fundamentalist offering them false truths and certainties when they are at their most uncertain and anxious. The grim suicide statistics of this group tells its own story. Further delay would be an unconscionable betrayal of them.
Baroness Barker, Vice-Chair of the APPG on Global LGBT+ Rights added that:
It is unthinkable that in the UK it remains legal to offer so-called “conversion therapy” to LGBT+ people. We do not need to be ‘cured’. What we urgently require is primary legislation that equips those vulnerable to this abhorrent practice with a clear deterrent that they can cite as a form of self-defence.
The letter in full can be found below.
29 May 2020
Dear Secretary of State,
We are writing to you in our capacity as Officers of the APPG on Global LGBT+ Rights regarding UK Government’s commitment to ending so-called “conversion therapy”, following Kemi Badenoch MP’s reply to a written question on the topic dated 18 May and the Government Equalities Office’s response to a petition which as of 29 May has over 85,000 signatures. We look forward to it reaching the 100,000 threshold shortly and will be pressing for the appropriate parliamentary discussion.
We have all applauded the Government’s repeated commitments to ending this abhorrent practice - condemned across the world by medical professionals, human rights experts, and religious leaders - but we are becoming increasingly concerned by the lack of actual progress since the announcement of the policy to ban this practice almost two years ago.
The principle is crystal clear but an excuse for inaction now seems to be being sought in supposed definitional and legal complexities. However several states and jurisdictions have already banned so-called “conversion therapy”, and there is a growing body of research into the subject. The Government’s own LGBT Survey (2018) and the Ozanne Foundation’s Faith and Sexuality Survey (2018) give insight to the extent of the problem in the UK, its impact on those who have been through it, and the most common providers. ILGA World’s comprehensive study published earlier this year covers in great detail the various forms that so-called “conversion therapy” can take, and the different approaches that have already been taken to combat it. The forthcoming report on so-called “conversion therapies” from the UN Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity has been written specifically to raise awareness and support effective State measures through identifying best practices in legislations, jurisprudence and public policy, as well as shortcomings and discrepancies with human rights norms, in relation to conversion therapy. These reports tackle the complexities regarding religious practises and belief, defining what constitutes “conversion therapy”, how to approach the issue of informed consent, and the types of parallel interventions that can support legislative bans.
Furthermore, the APPG on Global LGBT+ Rights will be hosting a series of discussions in the coming weeks with lawmakers and experts in jurisdictions that have successfully banned so-called “conversion therapy” to better understand the challenges and opportunities, and we hope that yourself or your staff will join us.
So-called “conversion therapy” is a dangerous and cruel practise which has an ongoing and devastating impact on the wellbeing of those who have undergone it. We would like to understand what steps have been taken over the last two years and what the timeline is going forward to ensure that LGBT+ people in the UK are protected. We are also sure HMG would receive the enthusiastic help of parliamentary colleagues in finding time to get this law delivered. We look forward to hearing from you on your plans and how we may assist you deliver this now overdue promise.
Crispin Blunt MP, Reigate
Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Global LGBT+ Rights
also signing on behalf of
Baroness Barker (Vice-Chair)
Lord Cashman CBE (Vice-Chair)
Lord Collins of Highbury (Treasurer)
Peter Kyle MP, Hove (Vice-Chair)
Stewart McDonald MP, Glasgow South (Vice-Chair)
The Minister’s response to the letter can be found here.