Conversion therapy ban won't criminalise 'gender conversations'

Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch has said the Government's ban on so called conversion therapy will not outlaw parents questioning their child's gender confusion.

The ban will not stop parents, religious leaders or teachers from having 'challenging conversations' with people abut gender identity.

A draft Bill is expected to be published by the end of May and it will then receive 12 weeks of pre-legislative scrutiny by a Joint Committee.

The conversion therapy ban was first announced when Theresa May was prime minister in 2018.

In 2021, leaked documents suggested Boris Johnson had dropped the ban but this was met with fury from some backbench MPs and Mr Johnson u-turned and said the ban would go ahead.

After Rishi Sunak became PM, the ban was firmly back on the table.

Serious concerns have been raised by parents, teachers, Christian leaders and campaigners over the impact a 'broad ban' would have on freedom of speech and belief.

The Greater Love Declaration is a statement of orthodox Christian thinking on marriage and sexuality and has been signed by more than 2,000 church leaders.

In Scotland, the government is also considering bringing in a conversion therapy ban.