A new study, commissioned by LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall, has revealed the “alarming” scale of so-called conversion therapy that still remains legal in the UK.

Conversation therapy incorporates various physically, emotionally and psychologically abusive practices that can supposedly change someone’s gender and/or sexuality. This can include berating or beating, being forced to pray as a form of healing, and “corrective rape”.

The practices have been discredited by all major health and psychological organisations in the UK.

The government first pledged to ban conversion therapy in 2018 when then prime minister Theresa May backed trans-inclusive legislation. However, successive Tory government’s failed to outlaw the practices. Following Keir Starmer’s general election victory, Labour said they too were committed to making it illegal.

However, the latest research indicates that conversion therapy remains widespread in the UK, with 31 per cent of LGBTQ+ people who responded to a survey reporting they had experienced one or more attempts to change their gender identity and/or sexuality.

When it came to methods used, almost one in every five said they had experienced physical assault, or were forced to use prayer as a form of healing and were excluded by their friends, family and social circles.

On average, more than one in every 10 had experienced pseudo-scientific counselling sessions. 10 per cent of respondents also said they had experienced corrective rape/sexual assault or exorcism. A slightly higher number had been instructed to ingest “purifying” substances.

Fifteen per cent reported being threatened with homelessness to force them to change their gender or sexuality.

The study highlighted the specific experiences of trans and non-binary people, with 38 per cent saying they had been the victim of physical assault. The same number reported experiencing family, social or community exclusion.

Matthew, a conversion practices survivor, said that those seeking to supposedly cure LGBTQ+ people went beyond “simply targeting someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity” and “cause you to doubt yourself and lose trust in who you are”.

He went on to say: “The effect that had on my mental health – causing anxiety, isolation and depression – is something no one should have to endure. At a time of rising hostility towards LGBTQ+ people, the UK government has a chance to take a stand and protect our communities from cruelty and abuse.” 

Stonewall chief executive Simon Blake said: “Each day conversion practices remain legal, they continue to cause untold suffering to LGBTQ+ people across the country, placing [them] at risk of harm. These alarming figures shed light on just how common these practices remain, despite often being hidden from public view or scrutiny.  

“Behind this data are people who have been told that their sexual orientation and/or gender identity are wrong, that they need to be ‘cured’ or ‘fixed’. The long-overdue UK draft bill must protect all LGBTQ+ people through a fully inclusive ban that gives perpetrators no room to deny the severity of their actions and provides a path to justice for victims.

“Banning these practices is also a step towards the United Kingdom regaining its status as a global leader in LGBTQ+ rights, after falling from 1st to 15th place for LGBTQ-friendly laws and policies in Europe, in just a decade. We can – and must – do better.

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