Conversion practices
Background
Conversion practices continue to cause untold suffering to LGBTQ+ people across the UK. For many years, Stonewall has been campaigning for a fully inclusive ban which will protect everyone from this harmful abuse.
The Trevor Project (2024) found that nearly 1 in 6 LGBTQ+ young people in the UK reported being threatened with or subjected to conversion practices. The government's UK-wide LGBT Survey (2018) revealed that 7% of LGBT+ people have been offered or undergone conversion therapy.
Conversion practices violate fundamental human rights, perpetuate discrimination, and cause significant long-term harm to people and communities. LGBTQ+ people deserve be safe and be protected from this abuse.
What are conversion practices?
Conversion practices are not health, natural and exploratory conversations; they are when an LGBTQ+ person is specifically being told they need curing or fixing. They include any medical, psychiatric, psychological, religious, cultural or any other interventions that seek to ‘change’, cure’, or suppress the sexual orientation and/or gender identity of a person.
For example, pseudo-scientific counselling sessions which are focussed on trying to suppress a person’s sexuality or being prayed over as a form of ‘healing’ a person’s identity. Conversion practices explicitly mark out LGBTQ+ identities as something in need of ‘fixing’.
You can read stories from people who have experienced conversion practices here to learn more about the impact of these practices.
Where do conversion practices happen?
The National LGBT Survey found that most victims of conversion practices went through it in a faith setting. Over half (51%) of those subjected to a form of conversion practices reported it was conducted by a faith organisation or group.
In addition, one in five (19%) of those who were subject to conversion practices were offered it through healthcare and medical settings, 16% were subjected to it by a parent, guardian or family member, and a further one in ten (9%) from a member of their community.
Which countries have already banned conversion practices?
The UK’s legislation on Conversion Practices is lagging behind. Across the world, many places already have bans in place. In fact, there are 28 countries with some form of national ban on conversion practices. Of these, 14 countries have bans applying to all individuals, seven ban it only for medical professionals, and another seven have indirect or partial bans via mental-health diagnosis restrictions.
Countries including Samoa, Chile, Mexico and Germany all have legislation to ban these practices.
You can find out more about which countries have banned conversion practices here.
Timeline of key legislative milestones and Stonewall's work in this area
- 2012
Stonewall’s CEO criticises a religious advertising campaign, saying that "the promotion of [conversion practices] is hugely irresponsible."
- 2015
UK therapy bodies published the Memorandum of Understanding on Conversion Therapy condemning “gay cures.” Stonewall endorsed the MOU marking it’s first public participation cross-sector effort against conversion practices.
- 2018
The National LGBT+ Survey found that 7% of LGBT+ people have been offered or undergone conversion therapy.
Prime Minister Theresa May announced an LGBT+ Action Plan and committed to banning conversion practices.
- 2020
Stonewall co-produced research on trans experiences of conversion practices, the ‘2020 ‘Conversion Therapy’ and Gender Identity Survey’.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson committed to banning conversion practices and said, “it’s abhorrent.”
The Ban Conversion Practices Coalition was born, with Stonewall as a proud founding member. This Coalition brought together organisations from across the sector, with faith groups and mental health groups, campaigning together to end these harmful practices.
- 2021
The UN Independent Expert on Protection Against Violence and Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity called for a global ban on conversion practices.
The UK Government launched a public consultation on banning conversion practices which ran until February 2022.
Stonewall ran an email MP campaign, encouraging members of the public to let their MPs know how important a ban is. The Ban Conversion Practices Coalition also pressed key parliamentary decision-makers at the time, about gaps in the ban proposals, namely around informed consent, religious settings, and trans inclusion.
Momentum built as banning conversion practices was pledged in the Queen’s Speech, with the Foreign Secretary vowing to “legislate [on conversion practices] as soon as possible.”
- 2022
Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that any conversion practices ban would be trans-exclusive. This was disappointing, and protests broke out to advocate for a trans-inclusive ban.
For the second year in a row, a ban on conversion practices was promised in the Queen’s Speech.
A Westminster Hall debate on a fully inclusive conversion practices ban took place.
The Coalition wrote to the newly appointed Minister for Women and Equalities, Kemi Badenoch MP, trying to push the conversion practices ban further up the legislative agenda.
- 2023
The UK Government announced plans for trans-inclusive conversion practices ban in England and Wales. The Ban Conversion Practices Coalition wrote to the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak after the announcement, welcoming the decision. In March, the Coalition wrote to the Prime Minister again to address ongoing delays with the draft Bill.
Stonewall ran the ‘Dear Prime Minister’ postcard campaign, with nearly 1.4 thousand people writing in to join the call for change.
- 2024
The Scottish Government launched its own consultation on ending conversion practices - Stonewall created a tool to help people respond.
The new UK Government, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, announced a renewed commitment to publishing a draft Bill to ban conversion practices in the King’s Speech. Stonewall welcomed this long-awaited step forward with a public statement.
- 2025
Bridget Phillipson, Minister for Women and Equalities, confirmed that the Government will publish a draft Bill for a trans-inclusive ban on conversion practices.
Following her new appointment, Minister for Equalities, Olivia Bailey MP, joined Stonewall’s panel at the Labour Party Conference and confirmed that she is committed to delivering a fully inclusive ban on conversion practices.
