London, United Kingdom. Britain on Thursday published plans to criminalise abusive and harmful therapies intended to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity in England and Wales.
The draft Conversion Practices Bill would ban so-called conversion therapies, with offenders facing an unlimited fine and/or up to five years in prison.
Draft legislation published
The government published the draft Conversion Practices Bill for England and Wales as part of plans first pledged in 2021 and followed by a further commitment in January 2023.
The proposed legislation would also criminalise encouraging or assisting conversion therapies carried out outside England and Wales.
Penalties and protections
Under the draft bill, those found carrying out such practices could face an unlimited fine, a prison sentence of up to five years, or both.
The measures would also create civil protections similar to those for forced marriage and female genital mutilation to protect people considered at risk of abuse.
Exemptions and next steps
The legislation includes exemptions for what it described as legitimate healthcare, allowing therapists and counsellors to continue open conversations about sexuality and identity.
The proposed bill will undergo pre-legislative scrutiny before being introduced to parliament for further debate.
