Scottish National Party MP John Nicolson has called for an end to the cruel practice of conversion therapy for LGBTQ+ people, stating that it is often forced upon vulnerable individuals by parents or religious figures. In a video for PinkNews, Nicolson recounted a documentary he filmed for the BBC that included a section on conversion therapy, where he witnessed a Protestant pastor performing the practice on a vulnerable young man. The pastor had also performed conversion therapy on his own gay son, who tragically died by suicide. Despite the grief, the pastor continued to target vulnerable young men with the abusive practice.
Nicolson emphasized that the idea that anyone can freely choose to undergo conversion therapy is untrue, and that those who undergo the practice are often the most vulnerable. He demanded that conversion therapy be made illegal for both gay and trans people, calling it the “kind and just” thing to do. He clarified that his words were not intended as an attack on any candidate in the current SNP leadership race.
Nicolson’s plea is in line with Scotland’s policy to end conversion practices by the end of 2023, despite years of delays to the UK’s promises to make the cruel practice illegal across the country as a whole. The UK government announced in January 2023 that a ban on conversion therapy – one inclusive of trans people – will go ahead. However, details of a timeline on legislation have yet to be revealed. The Conservatives first promised a conversion therapy ban in 2018 during Theresa May’s tenure as prime minister, but Boris Johnson later opted to push ahead with a ban that only covered lesbian, gay, and bisexual people. An inclusive ban on conversion therapy has since been confirmed but has faced pre-legislative scrutiny, adding more delay.
Research shows that trans and non-binary people face even higher rates of conversion therapy, emphasizing the urgent need for a comprehensive ban. Polls have found that a majority of Tory voters support a ban on conversion therapy, with 58% supporting a ban on trans conversion therapy and 63% agreeing that gay conversion therapy should be banned. Jayne Ozanne, a former LGBTQ+ advisor to the government, expressed her concern about the need to protect the most vulnerable in our society today.
Nicolson’s passionate call for an end to conversion therapy highlights the need for swift action to protect LGBTQ+ people from this harmful practice. With Scotland leading the way, hopefully, the UK will soon follow suit with a comprehensive ban on conversion therapy.