Wednesday, 27 September 2023

Part 167. Conversion therapy ban hits buffers?

Press reports claim the UK government does not intend to proceed with a bill barring all conversion therapy thus breaking promises by earlier Conservative administrations. The hurt, anger and sense of betrayal felt by the LGBT+ community is palpable.

Opponents of the bill argue that existing legislation is adequate and the introduction of a complete ban would infringe religious groups freedom of expression and actions. Proponents of a full ban are concerned the existing law will only protect against extreme forms of conversion therapy including "corrective rape" but not coercive "therapy".

Those in favour of a complete ban feared the bill contained a loophole excluding prosecution of individuals who conduct conversion therapy on "consenting adults".

The government has caved in to fundamentalist evangelical pressure groups. It deserves the opprobrium it is receiving for its callous disregard of the LGBT+ community.

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