Perpetrators of LGBTQ+ conversion practices could face prison under new bill | LGBTQ+ rights

Those who carry out “conversion therapy” on LGBTQ+ people could face up to five years in prison under proposals that campaigners hailed as a “historic and long overdue” milestone.

The government has published draft conversion practices legislation that will ban abusive practices aimed at changing someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity in England and Wales.

People found guilty of such abuse could face unlimited fines and up to five years in prison.

Stonewall CEO Simon Blake said it was a “historic and overdue step forward in the journey towards LGBTQ+ equality”.

He said: “LGBTQ+ people are not broken or in need of ‘fixing.’ At a time when we are seeing increased hostility towards the LGBTQ+ community, this draft bill is vital to creating a safer, more inclusive future.”.”

It has been eight years since Theresa May promised to introduce anti-conversion enforcement legislation, but political disagreements and U-turns have stalled progress.

Boris Johnson’s government planned to lift the ban entirely before announcing it would only cover sexual orientation, not gender identity. This caused a huge backlash and forced the government to cancel the international LGBT conference.

Opponents of the law say it could infringe on freedom of speech and worship and prevent parents from discussing these issues openly with their children.

The plans were delayed under successive prime ministers but Labor said in its manifesto it was determined to implement the ban.

The party said the threshold for punishment under the new law would be “conduct intended to change someone’s sexual orientation or transgender identity through abusive acts that would seriously harm the victim”.

He also pledged that the legislation “will include measures to protect legitimate health and treatment.” […] open speech and free speech”.

Author of the Cass review of gender identity services for children, Dr. Hilary Cass said: “It is important that healthcare professionals who provide much-needed holistic care to young people are confident that they can do their job without fear of litigation, and the minister has kept this important issue in mind, alongside the need to protect vulnerable young people.”

The bill would also create a new civil conversion protection order to pre-emptively support victims at risk of abuse, similar to protection orders for forced marriage and female genital mutilation.

Earlier this year, The Traitors contestant Matthew Hyndman, who is originally from Northern Ireland, said he was told to “publicly repent” or leave the evangelical Christian community for being gay.

“My profession, my community, everything was so intertwined, especially if you have a faith,” he said. “So for me, saying no meant rejecting the faith of my entire community and walking away. Thank God, I did that. I consider myself one of the lucky ones.

“The ban sends a very clear signal. Everyone who’s going through this right now, everyone who’s going through this, hears from the top that it’s wrong and it shouldn’t happen to you. You’re not broken, you don’t need to heal.”

Anti-LGBT abuse charity Galop said it had identified 371 cases of conversion practices between 2022 and 2025. Jasmine O’Connor, co-CEO of Galop, said the charity had “frequently witnessed the devastating impacts caused by transformational practices” and that the ban was “urgently needed”.

The government said existing laws covering domestic violence, coercive control and communications offenses did not adequately address the unique nature of abusive conversion practices.

Equalities minister Olivia Bailey said: “Legal gaps have left LGBT+ people vulnerable to these harmful actions, which is why we need to legislate.”