The British government on Thursday renounced a ban on conversion therapy, which claims to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity at the cost of sometimes appalling suffering, sparking anger and disappointment among activists and politicians on all sides. .
London announced in October that it wanted to create a criminal offense to combat these practices for minors and non-consenting adults. But the ministers are finally studying “non-legislative” measures to combat these therapies, a government spokesman said on Thursday, confirming information from the ITV channel.
“Given the unprecedented circumstances and the major pressures on the cost of living and the crisis in Ukraine, there is an urgent need to rationalize our legislative program”, justifies the government in a document to which ITV has had access.
“It’s a betrayal for the LGBT + community”
“How can we trust those in power when they back down from every promise made and don’t seem to understand the evil that so many people are facing,” Jayne Ozanne, a lesbian and prominent figure in the Anglican Church and activist, tweeted. since 2015 against these therapies. According to government figures, 5% of LGBT+ people have been offered conversion therapy in the UK, and 2% have undergone it. Figures not representative according to the associations.
The draft provided for punishing such practices with a prison sentence of up to five years against those under 18 in all circumstances and against adults who would not have freely consented to participate in them or would not have been fully informed of their potential consequences.
“This is not just another U-turn from the Tories, but a green light given for a form of torture in the UK. It is a betrayal for the LGBT + community, ”responded the LibDems party. “A government that thinks conversion therapy is acceptable in the 21st century is not supporting the LGBT+ community,” Labor MP Anneliese Dodds said.