What harm can conversion therapy cause and why isn't it banned?

What is conversion therapy?

Conversion therapy is also known as 'cure therapy' or 'reparative therapy'.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights charity Stonewall says conversion therapy refers to: "Any form of treatment or psychotherapy which aims to change a person's sexual orientation or to suppress a person's gender identity."

Conversion therapy is "based on an assumption that being lesbian, gay, bi or trans is a mental illness that can be 'cured'," and these therapies can be both unethical and harmful.

Does conversion therapy still happen?

Originating in the 19th century, there is evidence to suggest that LGBT people continue to experience conversion therapy.

Stonewall's LGBT in Britain - Health Report found that 1 in 20 LGBT people (5%) have been pressured to access services to question or change their sexual orientation when accessing healthcare services. For some groups, this figure was even higher:

• For LGBT people aged 18-24, the figure is 9%.

• For Black, Asian and minority ethnic LGBT people, the figure is 9%.

• And for LGBT disabled people, the figure is 8%.

1 in 5 trans people (20%) have felt pressured to access services to suppress their gender identity upon accessing healthcare services.

But where is conversion therapy happening?

The government’s National LGBT Survey (2018) discovered that the largest portion of conversion therapy practices occurs in faith settings. The statistics show that 51% of those subjected to a form of conversion therapy reported it was conducted by a faith organisation or group.

Other places where conversion therapy has been found to take place include:

• 1 in 5 (19%) were offered it through healthcare and medical settings.

• 16% were subjected to it by a parent, guardian or family member.

• A further 1 in 10 (9%) were subjected to it by a member of their community.

Is there a conversion therapy ban in the UK?

The government promised a conversion therapy ban in 2018 as part of the LGBT equality plan. However, they have been criticised by charities and LGBT people for being "too slow". Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced last summer that he plans to enforce a conversion therapy ban.. However, advisors on the government's LGBT advisory panel have since quit their positions because the process was taking too long.

In October 2021, the government published a consultation for England and Wales (which closed on 4th February 2022) before making changes to the conversion therapy law.

The consultation is to ensure the ban is 'effective' and doesn’t have 'unintended consequences', they say. The government wants to gain insight into "how to ban conversion therapy," but insists it "will" happen.

The government says their proposals protect "everyone, whatever their sexual orientation or whether they are transgender or not." This includes under18s.

As part of the proposals, additional financial support will be provided to ensure victims of conversion therapy get the help they need.

As for Northern Ireland, in 2021 it became the first UK nation to vote in favour of banning conversion therapy "in all its forms".

Patient picks for Identity

LGBTQ+ people share their personal conversion therapy stories

It's still legal for LGBTQ+ people in the UK to be subjected to conversion therapy, a harmful practice, which aims to suppress or 'cure' people's sexual orientation and/or gender identity. While many of us may be aware of the existence of conversion therapy, much of it happens underground. Therefore, we might not fully understand how it truly affects LGBTQ+ people in the long term.

by Emily Jane Bashforth

Where is conversion therapy banned?

Several countries already have a conversion therapy ban, with Canada most recently introducing a law against it.

Brazil was one of the first countries to set the template for a conversion therapy ban. In 1999, they introduced the first conversion therapy ban in the world. It initially covered sexual orientation, before it was extended to cover gender identity in 2018.

The following year, in 2000, Norway banned registered psychiatrists from practising conversion therapy on their patients.

Conversion therapy bans are also in place in:

• Samoa (2007).

• Argentina (2010).

• Fiji (2010).

• Ecuador (2014).

• Malta (2016).

• Switzerland (2016).

• Taiwan (2018).

• Uruguay (2017).

• Albania (2017).

• Germany (2019).

• Canada (2022).

It is worth noting that the bans in these countries all have different scopes and cover varying communities, practices and settings.

Other territories that continue to make progress include Spain, Australia and Chile. Parliaments in Finland, Denmark and France are all actively considering conversion therapy ban legislation, or are in the process of launching consultations.

What harm can conversion therapy cause?

A 2019 survey found that those who have experienced conversion therapy have higher levels of mental health problems. This includes suicide attempts, self-harm and eating disorders.

The survey, conducted by the Ozanne Foundation, found that 59.8% of respondents had anxiety and depression that required medication. Meanwhile, 40.2% had self-harmed and 32.4% had attempted suicide or had suicidal thoughts.

Some respondents said they had been forced to undergo "conversion therapy", and a handful said they had undergone forced sexual activity with or involving someone of the opposite sex.

The most common reason given to them was a belief that their desires were 'sinful'. About half of the participants were teenagers at the time, with some under the age of 12. More than 75% said the attempt to change their sexuality had not worked.

There is no robust evidence to support claims that conversion therapy can be 'effective', but plenty of evidence to suggest it can lead to:

• Severe psychological distress.

• Self-rejection.

• Internalised stigma.

• Decreased self-esteem.

• Feelings of guilt and shame.

• Social isolation and loss of social support.

• Deteriorated family relationships.

• A loss of faith.

Eloise Stonborough, associate director of policy and research at Stonewall says: "Conversion therapy is a repulsive practice which devastates lives. The UK Government's own survey shows that 7% of LGBTQIA+ respondents have been offered or undergone conversion therapy. This figure represents thousands of LGBT people whose lives have been torn apart by this barbaric practice."

Stonborough stresses how urgent the need is for comprehensive legislation that outlaws conversion therapy.

"Any Bill must outlaw all forms of conversion therapies in every setting. There must not be any loopholes that permit LGBT people to consent to conversion therapy, because no one can consent to abuse. It's been over three years since the UK Government committed to banning conversion therapy; it must act now to protect our communities and outlaw this abhorrent practice once and for all."