Theresa May has vowed to eradicate the “abhorrent” practice of gay conversion therapy as she today publishes the world’s largest LGBT+ survey and a government plan aimed at addressing discrimination and health inequality.
Writing exclusively for The Independent, Penny Mordaunt, the women and equalities minister, said that conversion therapy – sometimes referred to as “gay cure” – is “abuse of the worst kind and must be stamped out”.
The decision comes after ministers found the controversial practice, which aims to alter a person’s sexual orientation, to be more prevalent than previously thought after analysing the survey of 108,000 LGBT+ individuals across the UK.
It forms one of 75 commitments in the action plan – alongside a £4.5m fund – to tackle issues raised by the LGBT+ community in the survey last summer that aimed to gain an in-depth understanding of experiences of life in Britain.
Results in the survey suggested that 5 per cent – 5,400 people – had been offered the widely discredited therapy by a range of faith organisations, healthcare providers, and family members while two per cent (2,160) had undergone it.
Ms. Mordaunt said the practice – described as “unethical and potentially harmful” by NHS England in 2014 – can “range from pseudo-psychological treatments to in the most extreme cases, surgical interventions and ‘corrective rape’.”
Her department will now consider “all legislative and non-legislative options” to prohibit promoting, offering or conducting the therapy in the UK.
Other results of the survey included:
Two in three people (68 per cent) said they avoided holding hands with a same-sex partner in public for fear of a negative reaction2 per cent have undergone conversion therapy while 5 per cent have been offered itNearly a quarter (23 per cent) said people at work reacted negatively to them being LGBT+70 per cent said they avoided being open about their sexual orientation for fear of a negative reactionOf trans respondents, 59 per cent said they avoided expressing their gender identity for fear of negative reactionLaunching the action plan on Tuesday, the prime minister said it sets out “concrete steps” to “deliver real and lasting change across society”.
Ms May continued: “I was struck by just how many respondents said they cannot be open about their sexual orientation or avoid holding hands with their partner in public for fear of a negative reaction. No one should ever have to hide who they are or who they love.
“We can be proud that the UK is a world leader in advancing LGBT+ rights, but the overwhelming response to our survey has shone a light on the many areas where we can improve the lives of LGBT+ people.”
(The Independent)
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