What is conversion therapy and what has the government's position on banning it been?
told Sky News the government will in fact ban conversion therapy.But what is conversion therapy, why do people want it banned, and what are politicians' positions on the matter?What is conversion therapy?Also called cure therapy or reparative therapy, conversion therapy refers to any form of treatment or psychotherapy that aims to change a person's sexual orientation or suppress a person's gender identity.Therapies and prayer can be used, while more extreme forms can include "exorcisms, physical violence and food deprivation", Jayne Ozanne, a former government equality adviser said. 'Don't say gay' bill signed: Teachers forbidden to give sexual orientation lessons in Florida Marvel's first Muslim superhero Kamala Khan celebrated as new series Ms Marvel is teased British LGBT Awards: Jurgen Klopp, Daniel Radcliffe and Jade Thirlwall among the nominees LGBT charity Stonewall says conversion therapy is based on an assumption that being lesbian, gay, bi, or trans is a mental illness that can be "cured".The NHS and other professional bodies have warned all forms of conversion therapy are "unethical and potentially harmful".The practice is outlawed in several other countries, with Canada, Germany, Mexico, and Malta all having introduced a full or partial ban.Multiple US states have also introduced a ban on conversion therapy, although in many cases this does not include religious organisations or counsellors.What has the UK government's position been?In 2017, the government launched a national LGBT survey, which found transgender people were twice as likely to have been offered conversion therapy than gay and bisexual individuals.The survey received over 100,000 responses, and it led then-prime minister Theresa May to announce.
