The United Kingdom government has presented new proposals to ban the so-called ‘conversion practices’ in England and Wales.

The administration of the Labour Party (Social Democrats) published its text for a draft bill that they say “will fill gaps in the law to protect people from abhorrent abuse”.

The 20-page document, presented at the end of June 2026, has the aim of “protecting LGBT+ people from physical and psychological abuse to change who they are”.

All Evangelical Focus news and opinion, on your WhatsApp.

The government claims that “abhorrent practices are still happening today, with people being subjected to physical, sexual, economic and psychological abuse”. Olivia Bailey, the UK’s Minister of Equalities, said there are “legal loopholes” in the UK that “have left LGBT+ people vulnerable (…) which is why we must legislate”

With the proposed law, someone found “guilty of conducting abusive conversion practices could face an unlimited fine, a custodial sentence of up to 5 years, or both”, a government  press release says.  

Several LGBTQI organisations expressed their support for such a law. Saba Ali of the Ban Conversion Therapy Coalition, said: “No one should ever be told they can’t be who they are, or love who they love. LGBTQ+ identities are beautiful, diverse, and should be celebrated, and yet attempts to change and suppress them are still happening across the UK, causing profound suffering”.

 

Evangelical Alliance: “Restricts support of parents and freedom of churches”

The EAUK has warned that the plans of the government create unneeded risks for families, parents, church groups.

“The Evangelical Alliance has consistently spoken out against forced and abusive activities relating to someone’s sexual orientation or whether someone considers themselves transgender”, they said in a statement on 25 June.

At the same time, the evangelical body in England has “regularly spoken out against the dangers of a badly drafted law restricting the freedom of churches and the support parents and carers provide for children”.

Previous proposals to address so-called ‘conversion therapies’ were worrying, and the current proposals “are too subjective, lack clarity and create immense risk of criminalising parents and church activity”, says the EAUK.

Peter Lynas commented: “The proposals fundamentally undermine the role of parents and carers while also ignoring freedom of religion and belief. The definition of abusive practices is entirely subjective and could leave a wide range of people at risk of prosecution even years later”.

For the entity representing hundreds of evangelical churches from a wide range of denominations in the UK, the government’s plans are “disappointing” because it “ignored” concerns raised by families and faith groups.

“We will work with others to challenge these proposals”, the Evangelical Alliance has said.

 

Christian Concern: “Opens doors to false accusations against parents and pastors”

Among other groups who do not see the need for a new law is Christian Concern.

“Genuinely abusive practices involving physical harm are not being practised and would be covered by existing laws”, says the Christian advocacy group in a statement after reading the draft law presented by the government.

“This bill opens the door to the persecution of parents and pastors through false accusations of abusive conversion practices. It entirely dodges questions about what actions genuinely are harmful or abusive, instead using terms like 'controlling or coercive words', 'use of economic pressure' and 'use of psychological or emotional pressure'”.

 
Christian Concern warns that “courts could drive wedges between distressed teenagers and their loving parents at the behest of local authorities without any harm having been done. Pastors who teach the historic, Biblical, Christian view of sexuality - that we should repent of sexual sins - will be said to be imposing psychological and emotional pressure on members of their churches”.

On the other hand, “someone who gratefully receives counselling and prayer but who later rejects their faith could assert that they received prayer and counselling under psychological pressure and blame any ongoing struggles on the ‘conversion practices’ they received”.

The organisation based in London launched a website with resources called “Free To Talk” in which they call to “Stop the ban on conversations”.

 

Spain also passes sanctions

Coinciding with the month of LGBTQI Pride celebrations, Spain has also introduced measures relating to ‘conversion therapies’.

The Congress of Deputies (national parliament) has approved, on the government’s proposal (PSOE, also Social Democrats), an amendment to the Criminal Code, with 178 votes in favour, 32 against and 138 abstentions.

This establishes prison sentences “of between six months and two years and a fine of between eight and twenty-four months for anyone who applies or practises” such therapies on a person, “even with their consent or that of their legal representative”, with the aim of “modifying, repressing, eliminating or denying their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression”.

Official figures from the Spanish government show that, over the last three years, the Ministry of Equality has received only 23 complaints on this matter: 20 have been archived and 3 are currently under review.