The Tory Reform Group
This evening in Parliament, MPs from all parties will be debating whether or not LGBT ‘conversion therapy’ should be banned. The debate is a well-trodden path for many of our MPs as the Government has committed to banning it since 2018. And on numerous occasions since, so why the delay?
MPs will be looking at the definition and nature of what a ban itself could cover. ‘Conversion therapy’ is defined as attempts to use medical, psychological and social methods to ‘convert’ someone away from their innate sexual orientation or gender identity. This can take the form of prayer, supposed therapy, electroshocking or even ‘corrective’ rape. A recent survey undertaken by the Government found that as many as 2,000 LGBTQ+ people had undergone this so-called treatment.
We are delighted that the Prime Minister has committed to banning LGBT conversion therapy, as well as the work undertaken by Liz Truss MP and Matt Hancock MP towards achieving this goal. However, like much of the LGBTQ+ community, we are concerned that despite parliamentary agreement for the need for action, we are still here, debating this issue rather than making tangible progress.
We have already seen a campaign led by Stonewall, and supported by the likes of Stephen Fry, to challenge the ‘dithering’ on this policy. The mistake we are allowing here is for our critics to use this well-intentioned campaign as a stick to beat the Conservatives with. But by only talking around the issue, rather than making any progress we are leaving a vacuum which can be filled by opposition parties.
Conservative MPs have been rightly campaigning on this for some time. Currently there is already in place a legislative proposal by Alicia Kearns MP which not only sets out the steps required by Government but also has the backing of religious leaders from every major faith in the UK. Her policy calls for a power for family courts to protect children and a mandatory legal requirement to report known or suspected cases of ‘conversion therapy’.
It is vital that ministers get the drafting right so that there are not unintended consequences like inadvertently preventing, against somebody’s wishes, a gender transition. The ban should only cover non-consent and allow for freedom of speech as well as religious freedom.
Whilst the Tory Reform Group are grateful to all those MPs speaking in today’s debate in favour of a ban, we are concerned that successive Conservative governments have already agreed to prohibit it – in 2018, in 2020 and, yes, even in 2021 – yet we have still not seen a legislative proposal.
From condemnation of apartheid in South Africa to championing gay marriage, across our forty-five-year history the Tory Reform Group’s campaigns have always stood the test of time.
LGBT ‘conversion therapy’ is wrong, archaic and outdated. We must act now to introduce legislation that bans this practise, once and for all.
I agree that action rather than debate is needed here. That’s what the Government Equalities Office say they have been doing for some time.
The delay, we were told some time ago, is because simple legislation is at risk of not abolishing this harmful practice and indeed risks making it worse.
It’s easy for the government to ban licensed people, such as psychologists carrying out so-called conversion therapy. Where it’s more difficult is where unregulated people such as religious groups or ‘therapy camps’ are involved. We cannot inadvertently drive this ‘underground’.
Some delay to ensure we get this right is understandable, but progress must be made and shown.