Conversion Practices (Prohibition) Bill

The Conversion Practices (Prohibition) Bill is a Private Member’s Bill, sponsored by Lloyd Russell-Moyle MP (Labour (Coop)). The Bill, together with its Explanatory Notes, is available on the Parliament website. The Bill was presented to the House of Commons on 6 December 2023 and is scheduled for second reading on 1 March 2024.

The Bill would create offences in relation to the offering, provision and/or advertising of conversion practices. It would also create an offence of assisting a person abroad to conduct a conversion practice.

Broadly, conversion practices would be defined in the Bill as entailing activity, the predetermined purpose and intent of which is to change someone’s sexual orientation or to change a person to or from being transgender.

The Bill would also describe in detail practices that would not constitute offences under the Bill, including the expression of religious belief and the provision of healthcare.

The Bill would extend to England & Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, although in the case of Scotland and Northern Ireland would require commencement by regulations in the devolved legislatures.