Thank you for writing to me regarding your concerns for the Government’s
plans to ban gay conversion therapies.
The proposed ban is a response to the deeply-troubling accounts of
conversion therapies expressed in the recent National LGBT survey.
‘Conversion’ or ‘reparative’ therapies range from pseudo-psychological
treatments to surgical interventions, and is known to include practices such as
electroshock therapy and the administering of nausea-inducing drugs.
While I welcome the government’s intention to eradicate these appalling
and abusive practices through outlawing gay conversion therapies, it is vitally
important that the freedom of Christian churches and other faith organisations
to express and exercise their beliefs is not stifled by this proposed ban. I am
also concerned that people who may be struggling with their sexuality and seek
help, support and advice, are able to do so, including from churches and other
Christian organisations.
The Government will be presenting more details for the proposed ban in
the UK in due course. I will be following developments closely and will be
speaking out in Parliament to ensure that this proposal does not undermine the
work of faith groups that are seeking offer genuine and legitimate support to
LGBT people, and their rights to express and exercise their beliefs.
