Boris Johnson reverses course, continues forward with ban on conversion therapy

The term itself means efforts to alter someone’s sexual preference or gender identity. While the ban on conversion therapy would cover those pertaining to gay people, it would not encompass therapies targeting transgender individuals.

Documents leaked to ITV News had previously shown that Prime Minister Boris Johnson was not having the UK government move forward on a ban of conversion therapy. British outlets have since noted the fact both Johnson and Theresa May made previous public promises to do so.

But since then, it’s rumored "60 MPs" lobbied Johnson to change his mind.

The most pressing concern expressed within these leaks were how the Johnson government could minimize backlash to a formal announcement of their plans to forego the ban on conversion therapy.

In the document summary section depicted in the ITV News article, the government prioritized how to publicly announce this decision, with mitigation of "backlash" from LGBTQ groups and members of parliament in mind.

Here’s their words:

• OPTION ONE: "We would ideally announce the decision not to proceed as part of communications around the Queen’s Speech in early May. This will allow us to position the decision as prioritising our legislative programme, and reduces the risk of looking like we have singled out an LGBT issue. Those disappointed with the decision will be able to [see] other important pieces of legislation have also dropped away. This would mean allowing the Minister to continue work on the Bill until then."
• OPTION TWO: "Alternatively, we could announce faster. This would reduce the chance of leaks, but offer us less insulation from criticism. We would need to bring a member of the comms team into the loop to determine the best possible moment to make such an announcement."

Following the report on these leaked documents from earlier on Thursday though, the Johnson government has seemingly backed off these plans, and will continue forward with plans to ban the therapy.

It was in July 2018 when former leader Theresa May vowed to ban conversion therapy, and that was said alongside the release of a survey of 108,000 LGBTQ+ people in the UK. Results at the time showed that roughly 5 percent (5400 people) had been offered the therapy, and only 2 percent (2160 people) underwent the process.

The Queen’s annual address last year made mention of government efforts to ban conversion therapy.

The previously stated reasons for not pursuing the ban were because the situation in Ukraine situation and increased cost of living expenses both presented themselves as more crucial issues for the moment.

“Given the unprecedented circumstances of major pressures on cost of living and the crisis in Ukraine, there is an urgent need to rationalise our legislative programme," the leaked documents stated.

Elsewhere in the documents the UK government believed they’d already enacted legislation that addressed "acts which inflict physical harm and talking therapies are already subject to regulation through professional frameworks for healthcare professionals."

Despite changing course and going through with the ban, Boris Johnson has drawn ire for excluding trans from the conversion therapy ban, with the documents leaking on Transgender Visibility Day

In that regard, another section of the document leaks highlighted how government commissioned research into the matter had inconclusive results. In their perspective, it boiled down to the fact that public dialogue of gender dysphoria lacks consensus, and therefore the same can be said about clinician efforts to address such cases.

There were concerns in the leaked documents about turnover in staff of key members of the Equalities Office, but the latest development makes that aspect still unclear.