Under new legislation, adults who try and persuade children not to have sex with their partners will be punished.

Liz Truss, equalities minister, announced a six-week consultation about how to legislate against trying to change someone’s sexual preferences through counselling.

It will also outlaw gay conversion therapy which is already covered by other offenses.

Some have interpreted that the new law could cause difficulties for transgender, nonbinary and gender-diverse advocacy groups. 

They have accepted the new proposals, and they say they would welcome Miss Truss to take the initiative.

Susie Green (CEO of Mermaids) stated: “Conversion therapy affects everyone in the LGBTQIA+ community. Evidence suggests that transgender people are more susceptible to being affected by this deeply concerning practice.

“It’s vital for the Government to bring in a comprehensive law ban, which protects all members of the LGBTQIA+, children and adults alike.

Lui Asquith, Director of Legal and Policy at Mermaids said: ‘The Government has made it clear they intend to protect all LGB and T individuals from conversion therapies – this is welcome and right.’  

Liz Truss said the announcement sets out plans on how the Government will 'ban an archaic practice'

Liz Truss stated that the announcement outlines plans for how the Government will ‘ban an ancient practice’

Ministers stated that safeguarding children under 18 years old is a priority and promised that future laws would place strong emphasis on preventing them from undergoing conversion therapies.

Miss Truss said that there should be no place in our society for the coercive practice of conversion therapy. 

“Today, we publish detailed proposals that will stop the use of appalling conversion therapies and ensure that LGBT people live happily without fear or abuse.

“I want everyone to feel loved and accepted as they are.”

“Today’s announcement outlines how we will ban an archaic tradition that has no place today.”

Critics said that the plans should have been more ambitious and banned all conversion therapy.

Ministers will pass legislation to ensure that conversion therapy is considered an aggravating factor in the sentence of those convicted of violent crimes.

They also propose to make a new offense for talking therapies that attempt to change someone’s gender identity or sexual orientation. This could lead to a maximum of five years imprisonment. 

The six-week public consultation on on how to legislate against the practice of trying to change someone’s sexual preferences through counselling will end on December 10

The six-week public consultation on on how to legislate against the practice of trying to change someone’s sexual preferences through counselling will end on December 10

This would apply to anyone under 18 in any circumstance and to adults who haven’t freely consented or been fully informed about potential impacts.

According to the GEO, consent requirements will be strict and rigorous.

Although some people believe that an adult cannot consent, even if they are fully aware of the possibility of being harmed it stated that the Government believes that the adult’s freedom to enter into such arrangements should be protected.

The Government has opened a six week public consultation that will close December 10, and it will then prepare and introduce legislation by spring 2022.

It stated that future laws will place a strong emphasis on protecting children due to their vulnerability. 

Keira Bell (24 years old) sued the Tavistock and Portman Trust. It runs the UK’s only gender identity service for children.

Mrs A, the mother to a 15-year old autistic girl currently on the waiting-list for treatment, also filed a legal challenge.

The High Court ruled in December that it was unlikely that a minor under 13 would consent to the treatment and that it was unlikely that a minor of 14 or 15 will understand the consequences.

Ms Bell called the ruling a victory for “common sense”, but Stonewall and Mermaids campaigners called it a ‘absolutely devastating blow to trans young people across this country’.

Appeal judges decided last month that doctors should use clinical judgment and not need to be approved by a court in order to provide treatment. This decision was unexpected and overruled by the High Court.

Ms Bell wrote earlier this month on CrowdJustice that she is seeking permission to appeal the Supreme Court decision.

She stated that she was ‘obviously disappointed’ with the Court’s decision and that it didn’t address the serious risk of harm children are exposed to when they are given powerful experimental drugs.