A survivor of conversion therapy said he was "enraged and disgusted" after the government said it would not ban the practice for trans people.
It was announced last night that the government would proceed with their action in banning the practice which, according to NHS England, attempts to change someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity. However, the government has faced backlash after they decided the ban would not include the trans community.
For a brief period of time, it was believed the ban on conversion therapy would be dropped altogether. However a leaked document, which showed the government’s plans to break their promise once again, prompted backlash from Conservative MPs and ministers and forced the Prime Minister to reconsider his decision. Now, it is believed the new plans to ban conversion therapy will only apply to someone’s sexual orientation rather than gender identity, meaning it would not protect transgender people.
READ MORE: This is the reality of gay 'cure' conversion therapy taking place in Liverpool
Chris Butler , a conversion therapy survivor from Warrington, was left ‘enraged’ after learning the ban would not include the whole of the LGBTQ+ community. Chris, although not trans himself, told the ECHO: “I'm incandescent with anger but totally unsurprised. Conversion therapy is psychological and emotional abuse, no more no less.
"Not all churches or churchgoers subscribe to these destructive ideologies but nevertheless, there are sectors of the church across many denominations who have championed and pedalled such abuse, doing great harm in the process. When this government announced it would have to perform further consultations with the Church before making its decision, that's when I knew any legislation would be half-hearted at best.
"In the 80s and 90s, gay men and lesbians were the public enemy, so much so that Section 28 attempted to erase us from education and the wider public debate. Here, we are in the 2020's and the trans community are similarly being branded public enemy number one, for as little valid reason as the gay community was in the past. I fully stand behind my trans friends and the wider trans community. Our society as it stands is both failing you and abusing you. It is wrong and you don't deserve this.”
The 54-year-old previously shared his experience with conversion therapy with the ECHO in which he recalled ‘having his head pushed into church grounds with a bible to release the gay demons inside him. Despite this, the freelance artist said the psychological methods used impacted him the most.
Chris, who now lives in Halewood, added: "I am enraged and disgusted. Many of the Christians opposing a ban would argue that they are praying for and with those struggling with their sexuality, which they feel is at odds with their Christian faith. However,[prominent gay evangelical Anglican] Jayne Ozanne sums it up perfectly when she said: 'Prayer isn't prayer if it causes you to hate yourself for being LGBT - It is actually hate prayer.
"It is dangerous, damaging and must be included in a bill to ban conversion therapy. I know, I spent years trying to 'pray the gay away' and ended up in hospital wishing I would die'. Having suffered two breakdowns because of internalised homophobia and the effects of conversion therapy I agree with Jayne totally. Thank god we both came out the other side and lived to tell the tale.”
An official briefing note, which was revealed by ITV News, said the Prime Minister had initially decided not to outlaw the practice altogether, despite repeated promises by Boris Johnson and his predecessor Theresa May that it would be banned. The Downing Street document reportedly read: “The PM has agreed we should not move forward with legislation to ban LGBT conversion therapy.” The document also claimed the reasoning for this decision was because of the war in Ukraine and the cost of living crisis. The note did however recognise there would be “noisy backlash” from the LGBTQ+ community and its allies,
Now, the ban on conversion therapy will go ahead but won't be extended to transgender people. Reacting to the news, RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star, Divina De Campo, tweeted: “None of us are safe unless we are all safe. Conversion therapy cannot be damaging a cruel for one set of people but not for another. Resist this government's cynical and coordinated attack on trans people. #LGBWithTheT.”
Prominent LGBT+ activist Peter Tatchell said: “A ban on conversion therapy that is not trans-inclusive is not a genuine ban at all. Excluding trans people from protection against abusive, harmful conversions is shameful. Trans people will be at risk of exorcisms, beatings, emotional blackmail & psychological brow-beating.”
Leading LGBT+ charity, Stonewall, added: “Conversion practices are abuse. They must be banned. In every setting and for everyone subjected to it. We demand a ban which is inclusive of all LGBTQA+ people. Speak up to #BanConversionTherapy, continue emailing your MPs.
