Government pushes forward with conversion practices ban to protect LGBT+ people from abuse
The government is banning abusive conversion practices in England and Wales to protect LGBT+ people from physical and psychological harm.
- Government publishes a draft bill that will deliver a landmark ban on abusive conversion practices in England and Wales.
- Current legal loopholes leave victims at risk, and new legislation will fill gaps in the law to protect people from abhorrent abuse.
- Proposed ban includes safeguards for legitimate healthcare and therapy, and robust thresholds that protect open conversations, and free speech.
LGBT+ people will be protected from physical and psychological abuse to change who they are, as the government announces a landmark ban on abusive conversion practices in England and Wales, with the publication of the draft Conversion Practices Bill.
The proposed 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 abhorrent practices are still happening today, with people being subjected to physical, sexual, economic and psychological abuse. Victims of conversion practices have recounted stories that range from beatings and rape to verbal threats, manipulation and exorcisms.
Conversion practices are still happening in 2026 because of a series of legal loopholes that allow perpetrators to escape justice. Existing pieces of legislation that cover domestic violence, coercive control and communications offences do not adequately address the unique nature of abusive conversion practices, leaving a gap in the law that can be exploited. In addition, the lack of a legal definition of abusive conversion practices makes it challenging for police and prosecutors to act. The only way to tackle these problems is through this legislation.
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 offences to support victims as well as those currently at risk of abuse. These will be similar to protection orders for forced marriage and female genital mutilation and will 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.
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.
Dr Hilary Cass, author of the Cass Review, said:
I am pleased to see that the government is bringing forward legislation which not only gives a clearer definition of what conversion practices are, compared to previous drafts, but also what they are not.
It is important that healthcare professionals providing much needed holistic care to young people feel confident that they are able to do their job without fear of litigation and the minister has kept that important issue in mind at the same time as the need to protect vulnerable young people.
I look forward to the pre legislative scrutiny process which will facilitate further constructive debate.
Jasmine O’Connor OBE, Co-CEO at Galop, said:
As LGBT+ anti-abuse experts, Galop frequently witnesses the devastating impacts caused by conversion practices. We know all too well how gaps in legislation have left LGBT+ people unprotected against covert and insidious forms of abuse, and we welcome this long-overdue legislation – it’s a vital first step toward addressing conversion practices as a distinct form of harm. As Galop’s latest research shows, conversion practices are happening today. This legislation is urgently needed, and we will keep working to inform the parliamentary process and ensure the ban protects LGBT+ people from all conversion practices.
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 the 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.
Professor Subodh Dave, President of Royal College at Psychiatrists, said:
The College have long called for a ban to these harmful practices and we strongly support the publication of this draft Bill.
We welcome the pre-legislative approach that will help ensure the Bill works in practice. It is important that in protecting people from these unacceptable practices, this legislation also supports healthcare professionals to continue to have appropriate exploratory conversations with their patients.
Dame Nicole Jacobs, Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales, said:
Subjecting a family member or partner to harm or coercing them to change who they are is domestic abuse and it must be stopped. I’m pleased to see this draft Bill brought forward so we can finally ban these deeply harmful practices, which have damaged too many people’s lives. I look forward to continuing to work with Ministers, as this legislation progresses to ensure it delivers the much-needed protections for all LGBT+ victims and survivors.
The Rt Revd Dr David Walker, Lord Bishop of Manchester, said:
I welcome the publication of this draft Bill as a positive step towards banning conversion practices. These have harmed LGBT people over many years, leaving many with lifelong trauma. This work is long overdue, and comes after the General Synod of the Church of England voted, by a very large majority, in favour of the Government bringing forward a ban in 2017. I am pleased that this will bring an opportunity for consultation and scrutiny, so that substantial progress can at last be made.
The draft legislation is clear that the government is not seeking to criminalise expressing beliefs about LGBT+ identities, nor is it seeking to ban explorative conversations and questioning about someone’s identity. That is why a high threshold for criminality has been included, so that only the acts that are abusive, seeking to change someone’s identity, and create real harm to the person, will be in scope.
The proposed ban includes exemptions for legitimate healthcare. This ensures that healthcare professionals, therapists and counsellors can be confident that they can continue their work to support patients and have free and open conversations about sexuality and transgender identity.
Our proposed ban aligns with international best practices by being trans-inclusive, protecting individuals from harm, and including a custodial sentence for perpetrators. Through targeting abusive conduct intended to change someone’s identity, the offence mirrors parts of New Zealand’s approach while remaining tailored to the UK legal framework.
The government has recognised that this is a complex legal area and is seeking to build a genuine consensus around a ban. That is why the draft bill will now undergo pre-legislative scrutiny to give opportunity to draw on the expertise and insight of a range of parliamentarians and stakeholders, ensuring that a ban is as effective as possible in the long term.
Today’s draft bill 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 £21 million in global LGBT+ rights