“We will shortly be bringing forward plans to ban conversion therapy, which is an abhorrent practice.”
Equalities Minister Liz Truss has vowed to ban conversion ‘therapy’ in the near future.
This promise comes nearly 1000 days since the government announced a commitment to end conversion ‘therapy’ practices in the UK.
Former Prime Minister Theresa May promised to outlaw “abhorrent” conversion ‘therapy’ treatment as a part of the LGBT Action Plan in 2018.
“We will shortly be bringing forward plans to ban conversion therapy, which is an abhorrent practice,” Truss stated on Thursday.
🚨BREAKING: Major breakthrough for campaigners as Equalities Minister promises to “ban” conversion therapy.
Following resignation of 3 equalities advisors, Liz Truss has said, “we will shortly be bringing forward plans to ban conversion therapy, which is an abhorrent practice.”
— Paul Brand (@PaulBrandITV) March 12, 2021
Prime Minister Boris Johnson also promised to end conversion ‘therapy’ during a trip to Belfast but also called the anti-LGBTQ+ treatment “complex”.
“I think this practice is repulsive and I think it’s abhorrent and I’m sorry these advisers have gone but be in no doubt that we will deal with this issue,” he informed the press.
“It is technically complex to deal with but we’re determined to take steps to stamp it out.”
The two promises from Truss and Boris come at the same time that three UK government advisors quit their roles due to the government’s treatment of LGBTQ+ people.
Jayne Ozanne, a key member of the government’s LGBT+ advisory panel and a prominent gay evangelical Christian, cited “ignorance” on behalf of ministers about LGBTQ+ issues.
“I’ve been increasingly concerned about what is seen to be a hostile environment for LGBT people among this administration,” she told UK Editor Paul Brand in an interview with ITV News.
“Over the years which the advisory panel has met, we’ve seen an increasing lack of engagement and the actions of ministers have frankly been against our advice.”
Ozanne said the catalyst behind her decision was due to the debate in Parliament on Monday, where 20 MPs discussed an online petition advocating for the ban of conversion ‘therapy in the UK.
Related: Three top advisors have now quit roles over UK government’s treatment of LGBTQ+ people.
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