UK Drafts 5-Year Jail Terms for Conversion Practices as Ministers Define New LGBT Abuse Offences
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jun 25
UK Drafts 5-Year Jail Terms for Conversion Practices as Ministers Define New LGBT Abuse Offences
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jun 25
Summary
Up to five years in prison and unlimited fines are proposed for people who carry out abusive conversion practices under a draft bill due in Parliament later on Thursday.
The Cabinet Office says existing domestic abuse and coercive-control laws miss the "unique nature" of these acts, so the bill creates a legal definition and two offences, including arranging practices abroad.
New protection orders would let authorities intervene before abuse occurs, while ministers say exemptions for legitimate healthcare and a high criminal threshold are meant to shield exploratory clinical conversations.
More than 300 calls about conversion practices were identified by charity Galop between 2022 and 2025; in a sample of 195, researchers found reports of violence, forced marriage and victims taken overseas.
The legislation, first promised in 2018 after repeated U-turns, now heads into about three months of pre-legislative scrutiny amid support from campaigners and threats of legal challenge from religious conservatives.
Where does the UK's bill draw the line between protecting a child and criminalising a parent's religious guidance?
How will the UK's new conversion ban navigate the free speech challenges that recently succeeded in US courts?
The UK’s 2026 Landmark Draft Bill: Banning Abusive LGBT+ Conversion Practices and Its National Impact
Overview
In June 2026, the UK government published a landmark draft bill proposing a ban on abusive conversion practices across England and Wales. This move marks a new era for LGBT+ protection by establishing a legal framework to prevent practices that seek to change or suppress an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity. The bill is notable for its trans-inclusive scope, ensuring protections extend to transgender individuals as well. By specifically targeting and criminalizing harmful conduct disguised as 'conversion,' the UK aims to align with international best practices in human rights and equality, sending a strong message against these discredited and damaging practices.