“Too many have suffered for too long; we have a responsibility to ensure no one else must suffer from this practice”
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGE BY CANVA
Despite Theresa May announcing that the Conservative Party would ban so-called conversion “therapy” in 2018, no such law has ever been officially made. All this may change – five years after the promised ban – due to Labour MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle.
With the support of nine Conservative MPs, Russell-Moyle has drafted a bill banning conversion “therapy” which will be introduced to the House of Commons on Wednesday 6 December.
Conversion “therapy” refers to any attempt to change or alter someone’s sexual or gender identity.
The new bill – seen exclusively by ITV News – is set to “prohibit practices whose predetermined purpose is to change or suppress a person’s sexuality, or change or suppress a person to or from being transgender.”
Mark Fletcher, CEO of Manchester Pride, told DIVA about the importance of this ban. “While cautiously welcoming the government’s belated move to introduce a bill banning conversion therapy, it’s disheartening that the LGBTQIA community had to endure over five years of inaction since it was initially discussed in 2018. The UK Government’s failure to address this abhorrent practice sooner has caused lasting damage within our communities, the effects of which will be felt for years to come.”
“As we look ahead, we acknowledge this step, but the delay emphasises the urgent need for a swifter, more decisive approach to safeguard LGBTQIA rights. Let’s strive for a future where such delays are deemed unacceptable, ensuring prompt protection of everyone’s rights.”
Earlier this year, LGBTQIA charity Stonewall campaigned against the delays in banning conversion “therapy” by sending over 2,000 postcards to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. There was further disappointment when the ban was also not mentioned in the King’s Speech, despite being laid out in two Queen’s Speeches prior.
Russell-Moyle’s new bill is known as a Private Members Bill, and probably won’t be voted on until March next year.
The Labour MP said: “Some of the biggest social reforms in this country have happened via Private Members’ Bills. I was overwhelmed with support from all sides of the House for this reform. Too many have suffered for too long; we have a responsibility to ensure no one else must suffer from this practice.”
Caroline Nokes, Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee, was one of the nine supporters of the new bill. She told ITV that the bill has drawn upon the legislation used in the 13 countries which have officially banned conversion “therapy” nationwide.
“The Bill will contain the appropriate safeguards for legitimate forms of therapy, but trying to ‘cure’ someone from being LGBT is abuse, and we must outlaw it,” she said.
Galop, the UK’s LGBTQIA anti-abuse charity, released a report earlier this year which revealed that nearly one in five LGBTQIA people in the UK have been subjected to someone trying to change, “cure” or suppress their sexual orientation or gender identity.
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