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| 'Gay conversion therapy' to be banned as part of LGBT equality plan | 'Gay conversion therapy' to be banned as part of LGBT equality plan |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Controversial "gay conversion therapies" are to be banned as part of a government plan to improve the lives of gay and transgender people. | Controversial "gay conversion therapies" are to be banned as part of a government plan to improve the lives of gay and transgender people. |
| A national survey of 108,000 members of the LGBT community suggested 2% have undergone the practice with another 5% having been offered it. | A national survey of 108,000 members of the LGBT community suggested 2% have undergone the practice with another 5% having been offered it. |
| It also found more than two-thirds of LGBT people avoid holding hands in public, for fear of negative reactions. | It also found more than two-thirds of LGBT people avoid holding hands in public, for fear of negative reactions. |
| The prime minister said nobody "should ever to have to hide who they are". | 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. | 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. | 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". |
| As part of the plan, it said it would "consider all legislative and non-legislative options to prohibit promoting, offering or conducting conversion therapy". | As part of the plan, it said it would "consider all legislative and non-legislative options to prohibit promoting, offering or conducting conversion therapy". |
| 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. | 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. |
| "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." | "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." | 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. | 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 | Analysis |
| By Michelle Roberts, BBC News online health editor | 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. | 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 | 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. | 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". | 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| "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. | "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. |
| "No one should ever have to hide who they are or who they love." | "No one should ever have to hide who they are or who they love." |
| 'Long way to go' | 'Long way to go' |
| Ruth Hunt, chief executive of Stonewall, said she was pleased the government was listening to the LGBT community,. | Ruth Hunt, chief executive of Stonewall, said she was pleased the government was listening to the LGBT community,. |
| But she added there was "still a long way to go until we reach full equality". | But she 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." |
| Have you undergone or been threatened with conversion therapy? If it's safe to share your experiences then please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. | |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or please use the form below: | Or please use the form below: |