LUP England and Wales tour

Over the past month, we’ve been on the road speaking to concerned Christians about how the Westminster Government’s proposed ‘conversion therapy’ law could criminalise innocent, everyday church work and parenting.

We held public meetings in London, Swansea and Sheffield with people from a wide range of churches. A huge thank you to those of you who came – it was great to meet and chat to you all. Thank you so much for your continued prayer and support.

The seriousness of what’s at stake was palpable at each meeting as we took people on a whistle-stop tour of the campaign for a conversion therapy law and the misleading claims that enshroud it.

We looked at how the activists – having engaged public and political sympathy – are no longer simply calling for a ban on already illegal egregious practices, but are calling for the expression of certain opinions to be criminalised.

We looked at the many failed attempts to bring forward conversion therapy legislation in the last Parliament, including: the two Private Members’ Bills that were monstered in both Houses; Alicia Kearns MP’s extraordinary number of amendments to the Criminal Justice Bill; and the previous Government’s own proposed draft Bill, which never got out of the starting blocks.

And we looked at how even some of the countries most intent on introducing conversion therapy laws are now finding it to be impossible.

We were also able to encourage people to join us in praying and working to oppose these attempts to outlaw harmless conversations and gospel freedom.

The Westminster Government has committed to bringing forward draft legislation on ‘conversion therapy’ for England and Wales this parliamentary session. You will note it is the same mechanism the previous Government pledged to use.

The promise that legislation will be published first in draft form is significant. For draft Bills there is normally a public consultation on the actual wording of the legislation and a parliamentary committee will be tasked with scrutinising it. This means there is more time for critical concerns to be raised before a final version of the Bill is voted on by politicians.

To be kept up-to-date with news on where the proposals are at and for help to take a stand, do make sure you are signed up to receive our email updates.