Labour’s Anneliese Dodds promises ‘full no loopholes ban on conversion therapy’

Labour MP Anneliese Dodds has promised what she calls a “full, no loopholes ban on ‘conversion therapy’.”

The Shadow Women and Equalities Secretary made the pledge during the National Women’s Conference in Liverpool on Saturday (7 October).

In a speech, Dodds touched on several LGBTQ issues including rising hate crime and recent anti-trans comments from many Conservative politicians.

“So-called conversion therapy is abuse”

She promised to tackle all this, promising tougher sentences for those carrying our anti-LGBTQ hate crime.

“We will deliver where the Conservatives have failed by bringing in a full no loopholes, trans-inclusive ban on ‘conversion therapy’,” she went on to say to cheers from the audience.

She also posted on X, formerly Twitter: “So-called conversion therapy is abuse. It’s astonishing this hasn’t been banned five years after the Conservatives promised.”

‘Conversion therapy’ is a debunked and outdated practice that seeks to change a person’s sexuality and/or gender identity. The World Health Organization and many health experts and organisations globally have long condemned the practice.

Anneliese Dodds, "It's been a difficult year for many LGBT+ people. Rising hate crime including physical attacks. A Tory gov that treats their lives and their rights as a political football. And a Prime Minister who sees them as a cheap punchline. Labour will never do that "… pic.twitter.com/dspLeRpxvw

— Farrukh (@implausibleblog) October 8, 2023

A ban was first promised in 2018 by then Prime Minister, Theresa May. It has since faced many delays and been dropped once before being resumed.

The second try of the Tories’ ban is reported to have been given to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. However, more recent reports suggest plans will be dropped again.

In her speech, Dodds also said that, if elected, Labour would “modernise” the Gender Recognition Act (GRA) while promising to support the implementation of the 2010 Equality Act.

Trans rights and issues have proven to be tough subjects for Labour. They recently scrapped plans to commit to self-identification if elected. This was first outlined by Dodds herself in a column for The Guardian in July.

Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer has been seen to flip-flop somewhat on trans issues. Many also disagree with the anti-trans stance of Labour MP Rosie Duffield, who has been vociferous in her views on sex and gender.