16/12/2020
The BBC released an article which has stated that more than 370 religious leaders from around the world are calling for a ban on conversion therapy - the attempt to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity. The term "conversion therapy" refers to any form of treatment or psychotherapy which aims to change a person's sexual orientation or to suppress a person's gender identity. The bbc stated that: “It has been noted that the signatories to the declaration represent all the world's major faiths and many are known LGBT advocates. This include South African cleric Archbishop Desmond Tutu and former Chief Rabbi of Ireland David Rosen. Other religious figures said a ban could risk criminalising pastors. A declaration calling for a ban will be launched at a conference sponsored by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) on Wednesday. The Anglican Bishop of Liverpool, Paul Bayes, and Mary McAleese, the former president of Ireland, are also among those who have signed the declaration.” Prime Minister Boris Johnson has spoken on this subject before and has repeated a promise to ban conversion therapy, saying in July that the practice was "absolutely abhorrent" and "has no place in this country". However the government has yet to publish details of the ban but said it had commissioned research and would outline its plans "in due course". While government figures have shown that sadly trans people undergo conversion therapy at the highest rate of any LGBT group and some campaigners fear that any government changes could exclude conversion therapy based on gender identity and only focus on sexuality, but it is both that needs to be addressed. It has been noted that If the government do finally ban conversion therapy, they need to be clear on what it means, because it could do more harm than good. Especially for trans healthcare."
