The government has committed to introducing legislation to ban conversion therapy, the practice of trying to change someone’s sexuality or gender identity.

Women and equalities minister Liz Truss said ministers want to end the “coercive and abhorrent” practice in England and Wales.

“As a global leader on LGBT rights, this government has always been committed to stamping out the practice of conversion therapy,” she said.

“We want to make sure that people in this country are protected, and these proposals mean nobody will be subjected to coercive and abhorrent conversion therapy.

The move was announced in the Queen’s Speech.

Before legislation is introduced, a public consultation on the government’s plans will take place.

According to the Government Equalities Office, this will be aimed at ensuring the ban ends the practice while at the same time protecting the medical profession, defending freedom of speech and upholding religious freedom.

In a briefing note sent out by Downing Street, the government said it will make sure that any action it takes is “proportionate and effective” and “does not have unintended consequences”.

Research has been commissioned into the scope of the practice and the experiences of those who have been subjected to it.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

A victim support package will also be provided, the first time the government has offered such support.

Organisations will get the chance to bid to develop such a package, with the expectation that the provider will be chosen by this summer.

The government has come under pressure to ban conversion therapy, with three LGBT advisers resigning in protest over what they viewed as undue delay in ministers taking action.

Jayne Ozanne, one of the advisors who quit, accused ministers of “dragging their feet” over a ban.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said earlier this year that ending the practice was “technically complex”, but insisted his government would “stamp it out”.

Related posts:

After Help to Buy and Eat Out to Help Out comes… Help to Grow ‘We have reached the point where taxes have to go up’, warns ex-Tory leader Hague Sturgeon to be questioned about undeclared meeting with top official who may have destroyed notes Second MP defects from SNP to join Salmond’s new independence party Tory MP and ex-soldier gets round of applause for emotional Afghanistan Commons speech Health Secretary Sajid Javid ‘confident’ COVID booster jabs will begin next month Labour demands urgent action amid claims fleeing Afghans being beaten and raped by Taliban fighters Scottish government to hold public inquiry into pandemic handling by end of year Britain working to keep airport open in Afghanistan after troops withdraw Culture secretary pledges action to stop football clubs going bust as Derby face points deduction PM tells unjabbed Brazil leader to ‘get the vaccine’ in awkward exchange State-backed loans being considered for energy firms that take customers from companies that go bust