LGBTQ+ Conversion Practices UK: Shocking New Findings

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A newly published study commissioned by Stonewall has brought to light the alarming scale of LGBTQ+ conversion practices in the UK, revealing that a significant number of individuals have been subjected to damaging efforts to change or suppress their sexual orientation or gender identity. The findings highlight an urgent need for a comprehensive, inclusive ban as promised by the UK Government.

UK Government Urged to Deliver on Promise of Inclusive Ban

This latest research comes at a pivotal moment, as the UK Government has committed to releasing a draft bill this spring to ban conversion practices. Campaigners are now pressing for a fully inclusive, loophole-free law that safeguards all members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Stonewall, a leading LGBTQ+ advocacy group, has spent the past five years pushing for such legislation. The organisation also co-founded the Ban Conversion Therapy Coalition in 2020, alongside campaigner Jayne Ozanne. This coalition unites LGBTQ+ groups, religious organisations, and other allies under a shared mission to eradicate conversion practices in all forms.

Widespread Harm Uncovered by Stonewall’s Research

The findings from the newly commissioned research are striking. They highlight a wide range of abusive experiences including:

Physical violence
Pseudo-scientific therapy sessions
Prayer used as a form of ‘healing’
Exorcisms
‘Corrective rape’
Forced ingestion of so-called ‘purifying’ substances
Threats of homelessness
Social and family exclusion

Key Statistics at a Glance

These figures underscore the widespread nature of conversion practices, with nearly one in three (31%) LGBTQ+ individuals reporting they had experienced at least one form of such abuse.

17% of LGBTQ+ individuals reported experiencing physical assault intended to change or suppress their sexual orientation or gender identity.
12% of LGBTQ+ people have been subjected to pseudo-scientific counselling claiming to ‘cure’ them.
12% also reported enduring ‘corrective rape’ or sexual assault as part of conversion efforts.
17% have undergone prayer-based interventions used as a form of healing to alter their identity.
10% of LGBTQ+ individuals reported experiencing exorcisms aimed at changing who they are.
11% were told to ingest ‘purifying’ substances, falsely believed to cleanse or fix their identity.
19% faced exclusion from family, social, or community life as a form of pressure to change.
15% have been threatened with homelessness in an attempt to force a change in identity.
Among trans and non-binary people:
- 38% have experienced physical assault to try to alter their gender identity or sexual orientation.
- 38% have also been subjected to family, social, or community exclusion for the same purpose.
Among bisexual individuals, 17% have been threatened with homelessness in efforts to change their orientation.

What Are Conversion Practices?

Conversion practices refer to any intervention—whether medical, psychiatric, religious, or cultural—intended to alter or suppress a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. Common examples include:

Counselling framed as therapy
Religious prayer or exorcism
Forced consumption of substances for ‘cleansing’
Physical and sexual violence
Threats of social rejection or homelessness

These practices are widely condemned by health and human rights organisations for causing lasting psychological harm.

Simon Blake, CEO of Stonewall, said: “Each day that conversion practices remain legal, they continue to cause untold suffering to LGBTQ+ people across the country – placing LGBTQ+ people at risk of harm. These alarming figures shed light on just how common these practices remain, despite often being hidden from public view or scrutiny.

Behind this data are people who have been told that their sexual orientation and/or gender identity are wrong, that they need to be ‘cured’ or ‘fixed’. The long-overdue UK draft bill must protect all LGBTQ+ people through a fully inclusive ban that gives perpetrators no room to deny the severity of their actions and provides a path to justice for victims.

Banning these practices is also a step towards the United Kingdom regaining its status as a global leader in LGBTQ+ rights, after falling from 1st to 15th place for LGBTQ+ friendly laws and policies in Europe, in just a decade. We can and must do better and a strong and inclusive bill is a vital part of restoring trust with LGBTQ+ Britons.”

Matthew, who has lived experience of conversion practices, said: “Conversion practices go beyond simply targeting someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity; they cause you to doubt yourself and lose trust in who you are.

The effect that my experiences have had on my own mental health, causing anxiety, isolation and depression is something no one should have to endure. At a time of rising hostility towards LGBTQ+ people, the UK Government has a chance to take a stand and protect our communities from cruelty and abuse.”

A History of Broken Promises

Despite repeated pledges since 2018 from multiple UK governments and four different Prime Ministers, a formal ban has yet to be enacted. The continued legality of these practices leaves thousands at risk each day.

As the government prepares to unveil the long-anticipated draft bill, Stonewall and its allies are calling for comprehensive protections, especially for trans and non-binary people who are statistically the most vulnerable to these practices.

A Call to Action for an Inclusive Ban

It is critical that the proposed legislation does not contain any loopholes that could allow perpetrators to evade accountability. Campaigners insist that any future law must be: