Quakers call for ban on conversion therapy
‘As Quakers we know that every individual is unique, precious, a child of God… We experience the Spirit expressed in a kaleidoscope of people and relationships.'
The Quaker Gender and Sexual Diversity Community (QGSDC) has called on the UK government to ban conversion therapy ‘without delay’, saying that many Friends have been affected by the practice.
The statement affirms that ‘any practice which seeks to change, “cure”, cancel or suppress a person’s sexuality or gender identity (commonly known as “conversion therapy”) is unethical, harmful, and is not supported by evidence’.
‘As Quakers we know that every individual is unique, precious, a child of God… We experience the Spirit expressed in a kaleidoscope of people and relationships. We believe that this diversity should be celebrated, not stamped out.’
The statement – made at QGSDC’s annual conference on 8 October – sends ‘love and solidarity’ to ‘all who have experienced conversion practices, both coercive and non-coercive’. It adds that ‘this includes many Friends we are aware of… who have since found a home in Quakerism’.
The call comes after a number of faith groups have pushed for a ban after months of government delay. This includes the Methodist Church and the Church of England, as well as the Hindu Council and Buddhist groups such as Dhamma Center in Colchester.
The government launched a public consultation in May to consider the issue, but activists have accused it of ‘dithering’. Three years ago it first pledged to introduce the ban.
Boris Johnson’s LGBT+ envoy, Nick Herbet, indicated early this month that the prime minister was ‘committed to outlawing conversion “therapy” by spring 2022’.
He welcomed a report into what the ban might look like, led by Jayne Ozanne, director of the Ozanne Foundation, who quit earlier in the year as a government advisor on LGBT+ issues.
Jayne Ozanne told Pink News that she was pleased that ‘yet another Christian denomination has chosen to put out a clear statement about the harms’ of the practice. Earlier this year she warned of a ‘dangerous loophole’ if the government focuses purely on coercive practices. Talking therapies and prayer are also used to try to suppress sexuality, she said.
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