What does the Government mean by ‘conversion therapy’?

Conversion therapy involves treatments ranging from psychotherapy to religious teaching and discussion.

- BBC

[Some politicians] say that churches offering pastoral care or sitting down and talking and preaching to people about their lifestyle doesn’t constitute conversion therapy. But I’m sorry, it does.

- Pete Byrne, SDLP councillor

A lot of [conversion therapy] is just talking to a religious leader, such as a priest or a pastor. It's people who come out to their parents who then tell them they need to seek spiritual guidance and support.

- Tiernan Mason, Anti Conversion Therapy Coalition

It’s very important that [a ban is] comprehensive and covers every aspect … covering gender as well as sexuality, covering prayer and not providing loopholes for religious settings, and importantly, covering informal conversion therapy, stuff that happens behind closed doors, often at the hands of families, rather than an institutionalised form of conversion therapy.

- Blair Anderson, End Conversion Therapy Scotland

[Conversion therapy is saying] 'If you have a vagina you are a girl'.

- Dr Helen Webberley, GenderGP.com

'Spiritual guidance’ is really just religious speak for conversion therapy. Religious conversion therapy attempts are inherently coercive.

- Matthew Hyndman, co-founder of the Ban Conversion Therapy campaign

Conversion Therapy covers a wide array of approaches designed to change a person’s sexual behaviour or gender identity. These can include talking therapies, prayer...

- Jayne Ozanne