This petition was submitted during the 2019-2024 parliament
Petition Ensure the protection of transgender people under a conversion therapy ban
In a time where transgender identities are being debated by the public and political figures more than ever before, it is increasingly important to ban conversion therapy for transgender people. In the UK, degrading and dehumanising practices should not be accepted and should be banned.
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A previous petition has been submitted with a similar goal, however, the Government's response at the time was before sports bodies and other organisations started to be more open around discussing trans issues.
This petition is closed This petition ran for 6 months
Related activity
MPs ask Government for an update on plans to ban 'conversion therapy' practices
The Petitions Committee, the group of MPs who consider parliamentary e-petitions, has written to the Minister for Women and Equalities to request an urgent update on when the Government will introduce a legislative ban on 'conversion therapy' practices.
The Government included plans to ban these practices in the 2021 Queen's Speech, and held a consultation to help develop legislation from October 2021 to February 2022. A Conversion Therapy Bill was then included in the 2022 Queen’s Speech. However, the Bill did not progress to become law.
Legislation to ban the practices was not included in the 2023 King’s Speech, which set out the Government’s legislative programme for the remainder of this Parliament.
The Committee has asked for an update on the Government's plans. We’ll share the Government's response with you when we receive this.
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Government provides update on plans to ban 'conversion therapy' practices
The Minister for Equalities, Stuart Andrew MP, has responded to the Petitions Committee's letter asking for an urgent update on when the Government will legislate to ban 'conversion therapy' practices.
The Minister has said that the Government is determined to publish a draft conversion practices Bill for pre-legislative scrutiny. He emphasises that attempts at 'conversion therapy' are abhorrent and said that a Bill would identify those practices as a particular threat to LGBT people and confirm the illegality of harmful processes intended to change someone.
MPs hold debate on Government policy on conversion practices
On Wednesday 6 December, MPs took part in a Westminster Hall debate on Government policy on conversion practices. The debate was led by Christian Wakeford MP, and the Minister for Equalities, Stuart Andrew MP, responded to the debate on behalf of the Government.
Westminster Hall is the second chamber of the House of Commons. Westminster Hall debates give MPs an opportunity to raise local and national issues and receive a response from a government minister. Westminster Hall debates are general debates that do not end in a vote.
MPs question Minister for Women and Equalities about conversion practices
On Wednesday 13 December, MPs on the Women and Equalities Committee questioned the Minister for Women and Equalities, Kemi Badenoch MP, including about conversion practices.
The Women and Equalities Committee examines the work of the Government Equalities Office (GEO). It holds the Government to account on equality law and policy, including the Equality Act 2010 and cross Government activity on equalities. It also scrutinises the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
- Find out more about the Committee on their website
- Follow the committee on X (formerly known as Twitter) for updates on its work
The Women and Equalities Committee is a ‘select committee’. Find out how Select Committees work.
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MPs debate proposals to ban conversion practices
MPs recently debated proposals to change the law to ban conversion practices, as part of a debate on a Private Member's Bill.
The proposed changes to the law did not progress further, but a Government Minister repeated the Government's commitment to bring forward draft legislation to ban conversion practices, for scrutiny by Parliament. We will update you with any news about Government legislation on this subject.
What proposals were MPs debating?
MPs were debating the Conversion Practices (Prohibition) Bill, which is a Private Member's Bill. This means the Bill was introduced by an MP who is not a government minister. Only a minority of Private Members' Bills become law, but, by creating publicity around an issue, they may affect legislation indirectly.
The Conversion Practices (Prohibition) Bill included provisions to create offences relating to practices intended to change a person’s sexual orientation, or to change a person to or from being transgender.
- Read more about the measures included in the Bill in this House of Commons Library Research Briefing
- Read the Bill and documents relating to it on its Parliamentary Bill page
- Find out more about Private Members' Bills
What has the Government said about banning conversion practices?
The Government has repeatedly committed to take action to prohibit conversion practices.
On 29 October 2021 the Government published a consultation on banning conversion therapy, to help it develop legislation for banning conversion therapy.
The Government has not published the outcome of its consultation on banning conversion practices, but has said that it will publish a draft Bill which will set out a proposed approach to ban conversion practices. Draft Bills are published to enable the detailed examination of an early draft of a Bill.
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