Statement: Conversion Therapy In King’s Speech 2024
In this year’s King’s Speech – a statement made annually at the State Opening of Parliament to outline the legislative priorities for the next parliamentary year – a draft bill to ban conversion practices was announced.
It is the third time the draft bill has been included, but years of delays and watering down of its content under the former government have meant that the bill has never been passed into law.
In January this year, Labour promised to outlaw conversion therapy through a “full, trans-inclusive, ban”. Now they are in government, and following the inclusion of the draft Bill in the King’s Speech, they must follow through on this promise.
Andi Herring, CEO and Co-Founder of LCR Pride Foundation, said: “We welcome the inclusion of the draft bill to ban conversion practices in the King’s Speech and urge Keir Starmer and his government to deliver on its promise for a full and Trans-inclusive ban.
“Since 2018, we have been waiting for a ban on conversion practices that protect all members of the LGBT+ community, that does not exclude Trans people, or allow exemptions in certain settings or where an adult ‘consents’ – conversion therapy and practices are an abuse of human rights and no-one can consent to abuse.
“While we are hopeful that there will be change under this next government, years of campaigning have been met by broken promises and broken trust.
“To begin rebuilding trust and relationships with the LGBT+ community we need to see the swift delivery of a fully inclusive ban on conversion practices, with no loopholes, that protects all LGBT+ people from this horrific abuse.
“We also need to see the new Government commit to supporting and protecting the rights of the Trans community, including allowing access to gender-affirming and – in many cases – life saving healthcare, while ending the divisive narrative around and politicisation of Trans lives.”
