Those who carry out conversion practices – commonly known as “conversion therapy” – could be jailed for up to five years under landmark new plans.
The draft Conversion Practices Bill, which criminalises “abusive acts” aiming to change someone’s sexual orientation or transgender identity, was laid before Parliament on Thursday.
The Cabinet Office said the Bill will ensure LGBT+ people are “protected from physical and psychological abuse to change who they are”.
Some groups have raised concerns such laws could criminalise exploratory conversations around gender identity or sexual orientation.
The government says it is proposing to legislate because existing domestic abuse or coercive control laws do not address “the unique nature of abusive conversion practices”.
The plans – which apply to England and Wales – will, for the first time, set a legal definition of conversion practices as conduct which “aims to change someone’s sexual orientation or transgender identity through abusive acts that seriously harm the victim”.
Minister for Equalities Olivia Bailey said: “Conversion practices are driven by the false belief that being LGBT+ is shameful and can be forcibly changed.
“Legal loopholes have left LGBT+ people vulnerable to these harmful acts, which is why we must legislate.”
Two new criminal offences will be created under the plans: one for carrying out conversion practices “which cause serious harm, alarm or distress”, and another for encouraging or assisting such practices to take place outside of England and Wales.
Proposals also include new civil powers known as Conversion Practice Protection Orders, which they say will “pre-emptively protect those deemed to be at risk of abuse”.
Those found guilty of conducting abusive conversion practices could face both an unlimited fine and prison sentences of up to five years.
