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Two-thirds of LGBT people 'fear holding hands in public' 'Gay conversion therapy' to be banned as part of LGBT equality plan
(about 1 hour later)
More than two-thirds of LGBT people in the UK avoid holding hands in public due to fears about negative reactions, according to a government survey. Controversial "gay conversion therapies" are to be banned as part of a government plan to improve the lives of gay and transgender people.
Results also showed LGBT people are more likely to be "less satisfied" with life than the rest of the population. A national survey of 108,000 members of the LGBT community suggested 2% have undergone the practice with another 5% having been offered it.
Prime Minister Theresa May said nobody "should ever to have to hide who they are or who they love". It also found more than two-thirds of LGBT people avoid holding hands in public, for fear of negative reactions.
In response to the survey, the government has produced a 75-point plan to improve the lives of LGBT people. The prime minister said nobody "should ever to have to hide who they are".
A 75-point plan to improve the lives of LGBT people, costing £4.5m, has been produced in response to the survey.
Its results also showed the respondents were more likely to be "less satisfied" with life than the rest of the population.
The charity Stonewall added there were still "pockets of society" where the LGBT community was "far from safe".The charity Stonewall added there were still "pockets of society" where the LGBT community was "far from safe".
More than 100,000 people took part in the survey, which was carried out between July and October last year. As part of the plan, it said it would "consider all legislative and non-legislative options to prohibit promoting, offering or conducting conversion therapy".
Those identifying as gay or lesbian made up 61% of respondents. Just over a quarter identified as bisexual and a small number identified as pansexual (4%) and asexual (2%). Equalities minister Penny Mordaunt told BBC Radio 4's Today programme of the practice: "This is very extreme so-called therapy that is there to try and 'cure' someone from being gay - of course you can't cure someone from being gay. In its most extreme form it can involve corrective rape.
People identifying as transgender accounted for 13% of respondents. "That's very different from psychological services and counselling. It's pretty unpleasant, some of the results we found, and it shows that there's more action to do."
She said the government is consulting on the best way to implement a ban, adding: "It's absolutely right that that abhorrent practice has to go."
There are also plans to introduce a national LGBT health advisor, tackle discrimination, improve the response to hate crime and to improve diversity in education institutions.
Analysis
By Michelle Roberts, BBC News online health editor
Sometimes called "reparative" or "gay cure" therapy, conversion therapy is a term used for any form of so-called treatment which attempts to change sexual orientation or reduce attraction to others of the same sex.
Experts say the word therapy is misleading because there is no scientific basis for it
All major therapy professional bodies as well as the NHS in the UK disagree with it on logical, ethical and moral grounds.
Stonewall says that "no one should be told their identity is something that can be cured".
Those identifying as gay or lesbian made up 61% of respondents to the survey, carried out between July and October last year. Just over a quarter identified as bisexual and a small number identified as pansexual (4%) and asexual (2%). People identifying as transgender accounted for 13% of respondents.
A quarter of those who took part in the survey said they were not open at all about being LGBT with family members they lived with.A quarter of those who took part in the survey said they were not open at all about being LGBT with family members they lived with.
Of the trans men who took part in the survey, 56% said they had avoided expressing their gender identity for fear of a negative reaction from others.Of the trans men who took part in the survey, 56% said they had avoided expressing their gender identity for fear of a negative reaction from others.
That figure rose to 59% for trans women and 76% for non-binary respondents.That figure rose to 59% for trans women and 76% for non-binary respondents.
LGBT hate incidents had been experienced by 40% of people in the survey, with more than nine in 10 of the most serious offences going unreported.LGBT hate incidents had been experienced by 40% of people in the survey, with more than nine in 10 of the most serious offences going unreported.
The prime minister said the results "shone a light" on the "many areas where we can improve the lives of LGBT people". Prime Minister Theresa May said: "We can be proud that the UK is a world leader in advancing LGBT rights, but the overwhelming response to our survey has shone a light on the many areas where we can improve the lives of LGBT people.
Equalities minister Penny Mordaunt told BBC Breakfast: "There's still much more that we need to do to enable people to thrive, to access healthcare services and to ensure that they can go about their daily business without fear or feeling intimidated." "I was struck by just how many respondents said they cannot be open about their sexual orientation or avoid holding hands with their partner in public for fear of a negative reaction.
Conversion therapy "No one should ever have to hide who they are or who they love."
The government's new "action plan" aims to help "tackle discrimination and improve the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender" people in the UK. 'Long way to go'
One of the commitments in the plan is to "eradicate the abhorrent practice of conversion therapy", which 5% of survey respondents said they had been offered, and a further 2% said they had experienced. Ruth Hunt, chief executive of Stonewall, said she was pleased the government was listening to the LGBT community,.
"We will consider all legislative and non-legislative options to prohibit promoting, offering or conducting conversion therapy," the plan states. But she added there was "still a long way to go until we reach full equality".
Ruth Hunt, chief executive of Stonewall, said she was pleased the government was listening to the LGBT community, but added there was "still a long way to go until we reach full equality".
Campaigner Peter Tatchell welcomed the government trying to ban conversion therapy. But he said the 75 point-plan did not go far enough.Campaigner Peter Tatchell welcomed the government trying to ban conversion therapy. But he said the 75 point-plan did not go far enough.
"The biggest fail is the lack of any pledge to end the detention and deportation of LGBT+ refugees fleeing persecution in violently homophobic countries like Uganda, Iran, Russia, Egypt and Jamaica," he said."The biggest fail is the lack of any pledge to end the detention and deportation of LGBT+ refugees fleeing persecution in violently homophobic countries like Uganda, Iran, Russia, Egypt and Jamaica," he said.
"Another big omission is the absence of any commitment to compensate gay and bisexual men who were convicted under past anti-gay laws.""Another big omission is the absence of any commitment to compensate gay and bisexual men who were convicted under past anti-gay laws."
Are you afraid to be affectionate with a same-sex partner in public? Do you feel there's something stopping you from being open about your sexuality or gender around your family? If it's safe to share your experiences then please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories.Are you afraid to be affectionate with a same-sex partner in public? Do you feel there's something stopping you from being open about your sexuality or gender around your family? If it's safe to share your experiences then please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories.
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