The UK government has declared its intention to ban so-called conversion therapy for gay or bisexual people in England and Wales – but not for transgender people.
“Nikki da Costa, a former director of legislative affairs at No 10, said elements of the legislation, particularly relating to gender identity for under 18s and talking therapy, would have had ‘profound consequences for children struggling with gender dysphoria , , Doctors, therapists and parents would be deterred from exploring with a child any feelings of what else may be going on for fear of being told they’re trying to change a child’s identity’, adding that it was ‘deeply concerning’.
”It is thought that the government sees it as too complicated to avoid any unintended consequences of the legislation – which may affect parents, teachers, and therapists who are helping children experiencing gender identity issues.”
“A spokesman for the UK government said: ‘The government has a proud record on LGBT rights, and the Prime Minister is committed to bringing forward legislation to ban conversion therapy. ‘Recognizing the complexity of issues and need for further careful thought, we will carry out separate work to consider the issue of transgender conversion therapy further. This is a legally complex area and we have a responsibility to ensure unintended consequences are not written into legislation, particularly in the case of under 18s.’
“The Welsh government has outlined the steps it is taking towards banning the practice of conversion therapy across Wales. The deputy minister for social partnership, Hannah Blythyn, confirmed that NHS Wales has signed up to a Memorandum of Understanding to ban conversion therapy in Wales, including the country’s trans communities. The inclusion of trans people in the plans for a ban differs from the UK Government’s moves to outlaw the practice of ‘gay conversion therapy.”
