The Government’s consultation on a conversion therapy ban has been extended by eight weeks.
The extension comes after an accessible ‘easy read’ version was only published on Thursday 9th December, the day before the consultation was originally meant to close.
The consultation period will now run until Friday 4th February 2022 at 11.45pm. This is “to ensure the widest possible views are taken into account” according to a statement from the Government Equalities Office (GEO).
Speaking on the extension, LCR Pride Foundation CEO and Co-founder, Andi Herring, said: “We welcome the publication of the accessible version of the consultation, but this should have been available from when it was first launched in October.
“The deadline extension will allow people who were previously unable to respond, which is important. However, it should not be allowed to delay plans to bring a Bill forward in the spring of next year.
“In 2018 the government pledged to ban conversion therapy as part of its LGBT+ equality plan, yet at the end of 2021, we are still waiting. Every day that we wait, even more LGBT+ people will be at risk of harm from these abhorrent and dehumanising practices. There must be no further delays.”
You can respond to the consultation here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/banning-conversion-therapy
