The government has vowed to pursue all options to outlaw gay ‘cure’ therapy in the UK.
In an action plan released today (June 3), Minister for Women and Equalities Penny Mordaunt set out a firm stance against the discredited practise of conversion therapy.
It is currently legal for unregulated persons and faith groups to attempt to ‘cure’ people of homosexuality in the UK, though the practice is banned on the NHS under a voluntary ‘Memorandum of Understanding’.
Following a survey that showed seven percent of LGBT people had been offered or undergone gay ‘cure’ therapy, the government today vowed to clamp down on the practise.
The government action plan states: “We will bring forward proposals to end the practice of conversion therapy in the UK. These activities are wrong, and we are not willing to let them continue.
“We will fully consider all legislative and non-legislative options to prohibit promoting, offering or conducting conversion therapy.
“Our intent is protect people who are vulnerable to harm or violence, whether that occurs in a medical, commercial or faith- based context. “
Speaking to PinkNews, Penny Mordaunt confirmed faith groups would not be excluded from the ban.
She said: “We don’t want to hamper religious freedom, but that is very different from processes and practises that intimidate people, that make people feel bad about who they are, who either coerce or force them to go through a particular so-called treatment.
“We will not have any qualms about tackling those appalling practises wherever they arise.” Read more via Pink News