The British government renounced on Thursday March 31 to ban conversion therapies, which claim to modify a person's sexual orientation or gender identity at the cost of sometimes appalling suffering, provoking anger and disappointment among activists and politicians. all edges.
Read alsoThe text on “conversion therapies” retouched in the Senate
London announced in October that it wanted to create a criminal offense to combat these practices for minors and non-consenting adults.
But the ministers are finally studying “
non-legislative
” measures to combat these therapies, a government spokesman said on Thursday, confirming information from the ITV channel.
“
Given the unprecedented circumstances and the major pressures on the cost of living and the crisis in Ukraine, there is an urgent need to rationalize our legislative program
”, justifies the government in a document to which ITV has had access.
"
How can we trust people in power when they back down on every promise made and don't seem to understand the evil that so many are facing
“, reacted on Twitter Jayne Ozanne, lesbian and eminent figure of the Anglican Church who has been campaigning since 2015 against these therapies.
Read alsoConversion therapy law: psychiatrists and lawyers worry about children in gender issues
According to government figures, 5% of LGBT+ people have been offered conversion therapy in the UK, and 2% have undergone it.
Figures not representative according to the associations.
The draft provided for punishing such practices with a prison sentence of up to five years against those under 18 in all circumstances and against adults who would not have freely consented to participate in them or would not have been fully informed of their potential consequences.
“
This is not just another U-turn from the Tories, but a green light given for a form of torture in the UK.
It is a betrayal for the LGBT+ community
,” reacted the LibDems party.
"
A government that thinks conversion therapy is acceptable in the 21st century is not supporting the LGBT+ community
,” Labor MP Anneliese Dodds said.