Conversion Therapy: Ban It Already!

This initially started off with my writing a small piece as part of my ‘This Week’ articles but I ended up writing quite a bit more so now I’ve made it a separate article.

I can’t believe that, after almost three years since the government pledged to put a step to conversion therapy in the UK, any form of legislation still has not been brought forward. Actually, scratch that, I can believe it, given this governments track record. Granted, I’ll give some grace here for the fact that they have also been dealing with a global pandemic over the last year. That is a priority as it should be, but this conversation has been ongoing since long before the pandemic.

The much-needed legislation was discussed in March, but the update given by equalities minister Kemi Badenoch was at best, vague. No actual commitments were made on when the legislation would be brought forward or what form it would take when it does. As a result of the dawdling, three members of the LGBT Advisory Panel stepped down and it has since been announced that the panel has now been disbanded. On top of all that, prime minister Boris Johnson has said in a letter to the Evangelical Alliance that any legislation will not apply to adults who seek “pastoral support” from churches while exploring sexual orientation or gender identity.

Call me cynical, but Johnson’s comments sound like they are already planning to facilitate a back door for conversion therapy to continue, on religious grounds. It is beginning to look like this is legislation is no longer going to be an outright ban on the controversial practice. Arguably, it is too soon to make any assumptions about what this legislation will actually dictate but these not so early warning signs aren’t filling me with confidence. The fact that the Minister for Women and Equalities, Liz Truss, has now disbanded the LGBT Advisory Panel also adds to my concern, not just because of conversion therapy, but because it is another removal of voices for the LGBTQ+ community. A community that has fought long and hard to be heard at all.

What I find most frustrating about this discussion is that scientifically speaking, there is no reliable evidence that these ‘conversions’ work and actually there is more evidence to suggest that they are ineffective and potentially harmful. Conversion therapy is pseudoscientific in that it consists of statements, beliefs, or practices that claim to be both scientific and factual but are incompatible with the scientific method. Pseudoscience can be very dangerous in that it can drive people away from proven scientific breakthroughs such as vaccines (topical I know!). Historically, pseudoscientific theories have even led to racism and genocide.  

Why is the actual science being ignored here? If we have learned anything over the last year, surely it is that we need to pay more attention to science, not less. With an ever-increasing awareness of mental health, including the mental health of those within the LGBTQ+ community, now is the time for governments to be listening to the scientists and health care professionals when it comes to this barbaric and homophobic practice.

Many of those that argue in favour of these conversions use ‘religious belief’ as justification for the therapy. I am so tired of this notion that religious beliefs entitle people to dictate a complete stranger’s life. I do not begrudge anyone of any faith their beliefs. I swear I have said this so many times before. In terms of religion, everyone is entitled to believe whatever they like however that does not give them license to dictate how anyone else should live their lives.

To reduce this down to a most simplistic analogy (and one I may have made before), I personally do not feel that pineapple belongs on a pizza. For me, it is gross and a bit weird. It goes against my ‘belief’ that fruit (and don’t start with me about tomatoes – I tend to go for a barbecue base anyway haha) should not be on a pizza. Does that mean I get to dictate to everyone else that they can’t have pineapple on pizza anymore? Does that mean I can use torturous methods in an attempt to ensure people never try to have pineapple on pizza anymore? It sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it? I can’t do those things and neither would I want to. Instead, I just don’t have pineapple on pizza, and I let anyone who does enjoy it do exactly that.

Of course, the conversation of homosexuality in relation to religious beliefs is far more complex but it really doesn’t have to be. Those who do hold religious beliefs just need to understand that it does not give them any right to impose those beliefs on anyone else. Conversion therapy is a potentially dangerous method of imposing those beliefs on others. It should not be allowed.

There is no reason to continue delaying this legislation. It has been almost three years which in my view time has been ample time to conduct consultations, gather evidence and so on. The only reason I can think of which could be holding back an outright ban on conversion therapy is the government attempting to keep religious institutions happy. I’m sorry, but that simply isn’t good enough. I have read too many heartbreaking stories about people being forced into these therapies against their will. Some of them are outright horrific. 'Ice-pick' lobotomies, chemical castration, electro-shock therapy and nausea-inducing drugs are just some of the examples of conversion therapy that sound terrifying in their names alone! Religious belief is in no way justification for any of them.