On Monday 8 March, MPs will debate e-petition 300976 relating to LGBT conversion therapy. Elliot Colburn MP, a member of the Petitions Committee, will open the debate. The Government will send a Minister to respond.
The petition, which has more than 256,000 signatures, states:
“I would like the Government to: make running conversion therapy in the UK a criminal offence, forcing people to attend said conversion therapies a criminal offence, sending people abroad in order to try to convert them a criminal offence and protect individuals from conversion therapy.
“Despite all major counselling and psychotherapy bodies in the UK, including the NHS, condemning LGBT conversion therapy, it is still legal and LGBT individuals in the UK are still exposed to this psychological and emotional abuse to this day. The very thought of this sickens me, and I would like to see it stopped one day.”
In response to the petition, the Government said: “The Government is committed to ensuring all citizens feel safe and protected from harm. We will work to deepen our understanding and consider all options for ending the practice of conversion therapy.”
The debate will last 90 minutes, and will provide opportunities for MPs to question Government Ministers directly on these issues. The debate will take place in Westminster Hall from 18:15, and will be available to view on Parliament TV and on YouTube.
