UK proposes five-year prison sentences for abusive conversion therapy practices

On Thursday, the UK government published a draft bill that would criminalize attempts to change or suppress a person's sexual orientation or gender identity.

The proposed law in England and Wales includes "trans-inclusive" protections and carries penalties of up to five years in prison and unlimited fines. This move follows an eight-year delay since the ban was first promised by previous leaders, and aims to provide civil protections similar to those for forced marriage. Critics worry the law’s broad wording could criminalize parents or religious leaders who counsel children against medical transitions, while supporters call it a vital human rights victory.

The bill will now undergo pre-legislative scrutiny by lawmakers to define exactly which behaviors constitute illegal abuse before becoming law.