Luke Pollard MP, Member of Parliament for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, has welcomed a draft Bill published by the government which will deliver a landmark ban on abusive conversion practices in England and Wales, protecting LGBT+ people from physical and psychological abuse to change who they are.
Currently, legal loopholes exist which leave victims at risk, with this Bill filling the gaps in the law to protect people from abuse. The ban will set the criminal threshold for conversion practices as conduct that aims to change someone’s sexual orientation or transgender identity through abusive acts that seriously harm the victim.
These practices are sadly not confined to the past, and still happen in our community today. LGBT+ people are subjected to the most horrific physical, sexual, economic, and psychological abuse, with victims having recounted harrowing stories including beatings, rape, threats, manipulations, and exorcisms.
The reason this has carried on for so long is that the current legal framework has loopholes which allow perpetrators to escape justice. The existing legislation on domestic violence, commercial control, and communications offences do not entirely address conversion practices, which leaves a gap in the law that perpetrators can exploit.
The lack of a legal definition of conversion practices makes it harder for police and prosecutors to take meaningful action. The only way to tackle these problems is to legislate. The legislation will create the following criminal offences:
- Carrying out abusive conversion practices that cause serious harm, alarm or distress to the victim.
- Encouraging or assisting an abusive conversion practice performed outside England and Wales.
It also creates new civil Conversion Practice Protection Orders and breach offence to support victims as well as those at risk of abuse currently. These will be similar to protection orders for female genital mutilation (FGM) and forced marriage, and will mean that we are able to pre-emptively protect people.
Someone found guilty of conducting abusive conversion practices could face an unlimited fine, a custodial sentence of up to 5 years, or both.
Luke Pollard MP, Member of Parliament for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, said:
“I am proud to be part of such a wonderful, inclusive community as an LGBT+ MP.
“Conversion therapy is abuse. That is a fact. I am glad that this government has committed to banning it, and is ensuring that a ban is trans-inclusive. In a time where others seek to divide our community, we respond by making real change that will protect people from hate and abuse.
“I have long campaigned on this issue, having petitioned for a trans-inclusive ban last year, and having continuously raised this matter in Parliament throughout my time as an MP. Our community is beautiful. We stand shoulder to shoulder with one another in the fight for equality and justice.
“It doesn’t matter who you love, or who you are, nobody should be subjected to such horrific abuse. This ban is long-awaited, and shows the difference a Labour government makes when it comes to LGBT+ equality.”
Olivia Bailey MP, Minister for Equalities, said:
“Conversion practices are driven by the false belief that being LGBT+ is shameful and can be forcibly changed.
“No-one should face abuse just because of who they are. That’s why we are delivering on our manifesto commitment to ban abusive conversion practices.
“Legal loopholes have left LGBT+ people vulnerable to these harmful acts which is why we must legislate.”
Simon Blake, CEO at Stonewall, said:
“People from the LGBTQ+ community are not broken or in need of ‘fixing’. That’s why I’m so pleased the government have published a draft bill to ban conversion practices that attempt to change someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity. These practices are abuse, and every day without a ban in place leaves people at risk of serious harm.
“This is testament to the hard work of campaigners and survivors who have bravely shared their stories and refused to give up. We look forward to continuing our work with sector partners, Parliament, and government to ensure the legislation is robust and effective.”
Saba Ali, Chair at the Ban Conversion Therapy Coalition, said:
“No one should ever be told they can’t be who they are, or love who they love. LGBTQ+ identities are beautiful, diverse, and should be celebrated, and yet attempts to change and suppress them are still happening across the UK, causing profound suffering.
“Today’s announcement of the publication of draft legislation to ban conversion practices is a significant and welcome step forward, but it is also long overdue. The coalition look forward to continuing to work with government to ensure the legislation delivers the comprehensive protections all LGBTQ+ people deserve.
“This moment belongs to a movement. Over eighty coalition organisations, countless survivors, clinicians, faith leaders, Parliamentarians and campaigners have refused to let this be forgotten. Today proves what we achieve when we stand together.”
This ban aligns with international best practices by being trans-inclusive, protecting individuals from harm, and including a custodial sentence for perpetrators. It is similar to parts of New Zealand’s approach through targeting abusive conduct intended to change someone’s identity, while remaining tailored to the unique situation we face in the UK.
The government acknowledges the complexity of this issue, and seeks to build a genuine consensus around a ban. That is why the Bill will now undergo pre-legislative scrutiny to draw on the expertise and insight of a range of parliamentarians and stakeholders, ensuring that a ban is as robust as possible for the long-term.
This is the latest action taken by the government to tackle abuse against the LGBT+ community and comes after legislation passed in Spring equalised hate crime protections for LGBT+ people.
The government has also taken further action to fulfil its commitments to the LGBT+ community, including:
- Righting the historic wrongs committed against LGBT veterans
- Publishing a HIV Action Plan to end new transmissions by 2030
- Investing £21m in global LGBT+ rights
