‘Conversion therapy’ ban: Caroline Nokes MP speaks out against ‘consent clause’
gaytimes.co.ukCaroline Nokes, a Conservative MP who chairs the Women and Equalities Committee, has spoken out against having a ‘consent clause’ included a ban of so-called ‘conversion therapy’.
The government is said to have a draft bill for its long-awaited ban ready for sign-off from the Prime Minister, though it includes a loophole that will allow adults to ‘volunteer’ for the harmful practice, ITV News reported.
Rishi Sunak is currently considering the wording of the bill before giving the Equalities Office the green light to move forward with it.
Campaigners argue that no one should be able to ‘consent’ to their own abuse, which is what ‘conversion therapy’ amounts to. “As with all kinds of abuse, the perpetrators of conversion practices have power over a victim – and so a victim cannot freely consent,” Leni Morris, CEO of LGBTQ+ anti-abuse charity Galop, recently told GAY TIMES. READ MORE: UK’s ‘conversion therapy’ ban ‘on PM’s desk’ – but includes a ‘consent clause’ “Some survivors who contact us have been through conversion practices for decades – and many victims believe they consented to what happened to them at the time.
