Religious leaders press equalities minister to ban conversion therapy amid possible delay

Jul 11, 2020 by Jill

by Paul Brand, ITV News:

Religious leaders have written to the equalities minister calling for the government to deliver its promised ban on so-called gay ‘conversion therapy’. ITV News understands the government had hoped to make an announcement on banning the harmful practice before Parliament breaks for the summer in a couple of weeks, but there are now growing concerns that the plans may be delayed further.

In a letter to the Equalities Minister Liz Truss, seen by ITV News, representatives from all the major faiths in the UK have reiterated the importance of pressing ahead with a ban as soon as possible.

The organiser of the letter, Jayne Ozanne, whose charity The Ozanne Foundation works to end discrimination based on sexuality or gender within faith communities, told ITV News: “The need for a clear ban on conversion therapy is urgent, as young lives are at risk.

“Our research has shown that those most likely to undergo ‘conversion therapy’ are children and young adults, who go to their religious leaders for help as they believe their desires to be ‘sinful’.

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