Overview
- The government included a Draft Conversion Practices Bill in Wednesday’s King’s Speech, committing to outlaw attempts to change sexual orientation or gender identity.
- Officials say the plan will be tightly drawn so it does not block legitimate healthcare, support for people exploring identity, or the practice of religious belief.
- The proposal will apply in England and Wales only because criminal law is devolved in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
- Ministers will publish the draft for pre-legislative scrutiny so experts and affected groups can review it before a formal bill is introduced.
- LGBTQ+ organisations welcomed renewed progress after years of delay, while critics including clinicians warned it could criminalise parents or deter care for gender-questioning young people.