The British government on Thursday published draft legislation to outlaw abusive practices aimed at changing a person's sexual orientation or gender identity in England and Wales, delivering on a pledge first made in 2021.
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Under the proposed Conversion Practices Bill, individuals found carrying out so-called "conversion therapies" could face an unlimited fine, up to five years in prison, or both.
The legislation would also make it an offence to encourage or assist conversion practices carried out outside England and Wales, extending the scope of the proposed ban beyond the country's borders.
The government first committed to introducing a ban on conversion practices in 2021 and reaffirmed that commitment in January 2023.
The draft bill also proposes civil protections for people considered at risk of such abuse, modelled on existing safeguards available in cases involving forced marriage and female genital mutilation.
At the same time, the legislation includes exemptions for what the government described as legitimate healthcare, allowing therapists and counsellors to continue open discussions with patients about sexuality and gender identity.
The bill will now undergo pre-legislative scrutiny before being formally introduced in Parliament for further debate.
