AN SNP MP has called of the UK Government to bring an end to “cruel” conversion therapy being offered to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.
Alyn Smith, the MP for Stirling, was speaking in a debate on the issue last night.
Although openly gay, Mr Smith has not experienced conversion therapy but said the number of people who had, or who had been offered it, was “startling”.
According to research, around 5 per cent of gay and bisexual people in the UK have been offered therapy intended to ‘stop’ them from being attracted to members of the opposite sex. Around 2% of people have undergone it.
For people who are transgender, the figure is much higher, with around 9% of people being offered such practices.
Mr Smith challenged the UK Government to “get it done” and outlaw such forms of ‘treatment’.
Mr Smith explained: "I welcome the broad range of support across almost all parties to ban LGBT+ conversion therapy. These are utterly fraudulent and deeply damaging practices to individuals who themselves can often already be in very vulnerable situations.
“When I put this to the UK government last year, I received warm words. It’s time that turned into action, and we haven’t seen any to date.”
He said that since last September, Government ministers have shown nothing but "warm words" over the matter and it is now time to act.
He continued: "Legislation to ban conversion therapy was passed in Germany last year. It is also illegal in Switzerland, parts of Australia, Canada, and some of the United States. It’s high time that the UK caught up.
"It would not be enough to just outlaw gay conversion therapy. Transgender people experience higher rates of becoming victims to conversion therapy, and every effort must be made to protect trans people from this cruel practice.
"The only people left supporting LGBT+ conversion therapy are bigots, and we cannot let them continue to hold us back from doing the right thing. So I was pleased to join colleagues from across the Commons in calling for the government to act, and to reiterate my calls that they get on with it."
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