Welsh Government plans for a complete ‘conversion’ therapy ban to move forward
The Government's Deputy Minister for Social Partnership, Hannah Blythyn says no-one will be left behind by their ban.
Words: Alastair James; pictures: Welsh Government (Hannah Blythyn) and Pexels
The Welsh Government is moving forward with plans for a total ban on ‘conversion’ therapy that it says would mean “no one is left out or left behind.”
In a statement released on Monday (25 April) the Welsh Government’s Deputy Minister for Social Partnership, Hannah Blythyn, outlined the plans.
The government, NHS Wales, and the Coalition Against Conversion Therapy have also signed a Memorandum of Understanding to ban the abhorrent practice in Wales.
“No one is left out or left behind”
In her statement, the Deputy Minister said: “As a government, we’ve committed to ensuring that we become the friendliest LGBTQ+ nation in Europe, where no one is left out or left behind.”
She said the Welsh Government was “seeking legal advice to determine all the levers we have in Wales to end the practice of conversion therapy unilaterally”.
She also said that they would “educate and raise awareness of the horrors and ineffectiveness of conversion therapy practices by establishing a dedicated campaign in Wales.”
The government has also committed to understanding the impact ‘conversion’ therapy has on survivors so support services can be improved.
A working group of experts, which will include representatives from faith communities, the health and social care sector; and children and young people’s representatives, alongside LGBTQ+ people will also be set up.
Ms. Blythyn added: ‘Through the measures I have announced and by engaging with partners across crucial sectors, I am confident that together we can and must rise to the challenge to make Wales the most LGBTQ+ friendly nation in Europe, where every corner of our country is a safe place for LGBTQ+ people to live openly and authentically as themselves.”
It comes not long after the fiasco caused by a leak that the UK Government was dropping plans to ban ‘conversion’ therapy in England. They quickly u-turned on this following a fierce backlash.
However, the new plans will exclude trans people, which caused further backlash despite the government saying it would carry out “separate work” on a ban effecting trans people.
The debacle has seen the UK Government’s LGBTQ global rights conference ‘Safe To be Me’ cancelled after more than 100 LGBTQ organisations boycotted it.
A YouGov poll issued earlier this month showed a majority of the UK population support a full and inclusive ban on ‘conversion’ therapy.
65 percent of people in the UK said ‘conversion’ therapy relating to someone’s sexuality should be banned. 62 percent said the same for gender identity.
The Attitude May/June issue is out now.
