BASW & SWU respond to UK Government dropping plans to ban conversion therapy

Plans to ban conversion therapy practices were omitted from the King's Speech, which BASW and SWU describe as 'disappointing and concerning.'

BASW and the Social Workers Union (SWU) are deeply disappointed and concerned that plans to legally ban conversion therapy practices UK-wide were missing from the King’s Speech. BASW’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Group (EDIAG) – who provide a critical friend to BASW – are disheartened that legislation to ban conversion therapy will not be progressed by the UK Government in this parliament.

Conversion practices (often known as conversion therapy) are attempts that seek to stop someone being LGBTQIA+ with the aim to change a person’s sexual and/or gender identity. These practices can include physical, psychological, medical, psychiatric, spiritual, religious or cultural interventions, among others. Not only are they unethical and harmful, both physically and psychologically, but they are widely acknowledged to be ineffective.  Conversion practices can cause long lasting trauma in the individuals subjected to them and can lead to depression, anxiety, drug use, homelessness, and suicide.

As a result, proposals to protect against conversion therapy practices have been pledged under every Prime Minister since Theresa May. However, they have yet to make it into law. Its omittance from the King’s Speech shows yet again that the UK Government does not consider it a priority. 

It is irresponsible for the UK Government to keep kicking the can down on the road on such a critical issue. The glaring lack of progress and urgency represents a failure in the duty of care to LGBTQIA+ individuals who remain at risk of being subjected to these abhorrent and outdated practices across the UK. Furthermore, it is disheartening and wrong that the UK continues to lag behind many other countries when it comes to safeguarding the LGBTQIA+ community against abusive conversion therapy practices.

BASW and SWU stand in solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community and united in our opposition to all forms of conversion therapy.

We remain committed to lobbying the UK Government, and devolved administrations, to legislate to comprehensively ban all forms of conversion therapy practices and to provide outreach and support for survivors and communities who have been exposed to such damaging practices, recognising the long-term harms they cause to people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

Alongside a full ban, we will also continue to call for clear guidance and support for social workers, health practitioners and education workers so that they are empowered to be able to identify and support those at risk of conversion therapy and ensure they are aware of channels to challenge such practices and those who carry it out.

This is in keeping with BASW’s Code of Ethics, which advocates for the promotion of human dignity and well-being, the right to self-determination, respect for diversity, and the responsibility of social workers to challenge oppression on any basis.

We acknowledge that a Private Member’s Bill to ban conversion therapy has been tabled in the House of Lords since the King’s Speech. We look forward to considering the Bill’s details once published and engaging in any subsequent consultation process.

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