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UK publishes draft conversion therapy ban with 'health care' exemption

scienceJun 25, 20261524,484

On 25 June the UK government published a draft bill to ban conversion therapy in England and Wales and described the measure as trans-inclusive. The draft sets out criminal prohibitions for a range of conversion practices but expressly carves out an exemption for "health care services," meaning conduct delivered as medical or therapeutic treatment would fall outside the bill's criminal scope. Campaigners, trans-rights groups and some legal experts warn the health-care exemption is broad enough to let existing NHS and private therapeutic practices aimed at changing or suppressing gender identity continue legally. Critics say the clause would allow anyone claiming to provide health or mental-health support to avoid prosecution and that the exemption undermines equal protections for trans people. The draft will now go through parliamentary scrutiny and potential amendment, with campaigners expecting the health-care exemption to be the central issue in debates over the bill's final wording.

TransHealthNow
@dadtrans.bsky.social

Hot Take -The UK LGBT+ sector is weak, ineffective & a large part of the reason why we are in this mess. Self congratulatory, ineffectual & compromised -they welcomed the Cass report & Conversion therapy charter with glee vs total resignation on segregation. Rearranging deckchairs on the Titanic.

10145d ago
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