Overview

• Prominent LGBTQ celebrities, including Rylan, Russel Tovey, Alan Cumming, Mae Martin, Munroe Bergdorf, and Dr Ranj, have drafted a joint letter to the U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, publicly demanding an immediate ban on conversion therapy in the U.K.
• The proposed ban, which was initally promised by the Conservative government nearly five years ago, has seen repeated flip-flops, U-turns, and changes in plans, leading campaigners and LGBTQ activists to question if a ban will ever be legislated.
• The government's repeated backpedaling on the issue is seen by celebrities and activists as a failure of the U.K. government towards protecting the LGBTQ community from rising hate crimes, providing access to specialised healthcare, and upholding LGBTQ inclusive education laws.
• The ambiguity and potential loopholes in the proposed ban, such as a 'religious loophole' that would allow some forms of the abusive practice to continue and a 'consent loophole' that could be exploited, remain a significant concern for campaigners.
• Conversion therapy, widely condemned by leading health organizations worldwide and considered a form of abuse, remains prevalent in the U.K., with a government survey citing that at least 7% of the LGBTQ community have fallen victims to or been offered the practice.