LGBT charities tell SNP ministers to introduce conversion therapy ban 'as matter of urgency'
This comes after a draft bill to ban the practices in England and Wales was published last month
A number of LGBT charities are urging Scottish ministers to bring forward a “comprehensive” conversion therapy bill as a matter of urgency.
Conversion therapies are any treatments, practices or services that deliberately try to change or suppress a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. This can range from coercive behaviour through to physical and sexual violence.
A draft bill to ban these practices in England and Wales was published last month, and a private member’s bill on the matter has been introduced to the Northern Irish Assembly. However in 2024, the Scottish Government dropped its commitment to introducing a similar bill, and said it wanted to see if a UK-wide approach would work instead.
A group of charities, including the Equality Network, Scottish Trans, LGBT Health and Wellbeing, LGBT Youth Scotland and LEAP Sports, has written to the government saying the UK bill “fails to adequately address all forms of conversion practices and would not protect those at risk of harm”.
They claim the UK bill includes a “very broad healthcare exemption” which they believe will allow unregulated therapists to carry out conversion practices, which “falls far below the standard of a comprehensive legislative ban”.
Dr Rebecca Don Kennedy, CEO of the Equality Network, said: “There is no place for conversion practices in Scotland in 2026.
“Scotland has been developing policy for over half a decade intended to finally end conversion practices in all its forms.
“The Scottish Government promised the community that if Westminster’s proposals were not strong enough and if they did not align with their principles that they would bring their own bill forward in year one of the parliamentary term.
“They are not, they do not, and so that time is now.”
She added: “Our government has an opportunity to show true leadership, to listen to our community, and to get it right.
“We ask the Scottish Government, as a matter of urgency, to stay true to their principles, keep their promise to victims and survivors of conversion practices and the wider LGBT community, and bring a comprehensive bill forward as soon as possible.”
However, any attempts to bring forward a bill banning conversion therapy are likely to be met with opposition within the Scottish Parliament over the inclusion of transgender individuals.
The Scottish Conservatives, for example, have previously raised concerns that a ban could criminalise gender-critical parents.
This comes after Q Manivannan MSP from the Scottish Greens, who identifies as non-binary, submitted a Holyrood motion to call for such a bill to be introduced.
At the time, Murdo Fraser MSP from the Scottish Conservatives said this was an attempt to "silence" those who have concerns about potential legislation on conversion therapies.
He said: “We should be listening to parents who are worried they would be punished under such laws for merely trying to warn their child about the impact of gender transition treatment.”
Mr Fraser added: “The public wants the parliament to be focused on the cost-of-living crisis and fixing public services, rather than these issues.”
Equalities Minister Simita Kumar said: “We remain absolutely committed to ending these abusive practices in Scotland.
“I met with the UK Government minister responsible recently to discuss their draft bill. We welcome the publication of their bill and are now carefully considering their proposals.”
Comments
Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.