Home > Our Work > Policy team >
The Scottish Government is currently consulting the public on a proposed new law aiming to end conversion practices in Scotland – the deadline for responding to the consultation is Tuesday April 2nd 2024. See below for more information on how you can respond.
It is vital that as many LGBTQA+ people as possible respond to this, as well as our friends, family and allies, so we can ensure protection for our community from these harmful practices in the future.
If you only have a few minutes, don’t worry – on this page we outline how to do a short and effective consultation response. If you have a bit more time and would like to submit a more detailed response, you can see our guide on a longer response here.
Conversion practices are acts which deliberately try to change or suppress a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. They are based on the belief that it is better to heterosexual and/or cisgender, and that other sexual orientations and gender identities are somehow flawed, wrong or “broken”.
You can read more about what conversion practices are here.
This consultation is a way for the Scottish Government to hear the opinions of organisations and individuals on their proposed legislation against conversion practices, and to find out if people support the general idea of the law, as well as views on the proposed details of how it would work.
If you don’t have much time to respond to the consultation we’ve outlined below what we think are the most important questions and how we’re going to respond to them.
Your response can be as short or as detailed as you want, and you can save your response and come back to it later if you need to. It’s best to put your answers in your own words and share your own opinions and experiences so the Scottish Government can hear a wide variety of perspectives.
First, open the consultation page here.
The questions which make up the consultation are spread across several different pages, which give short explanations for the proposals that the Scottish Government would like your opinion on.
On the page “Defining conversion practices for this legislation”, we’re answering
On the page “Suppression”, we’re answering
On the page “Overview of proposals”, we’re answering
On the page “Criminal offences – additional considerations”, we’re answering
On the page “About you”, you have to fill in all the required fields. Your email address will be kept confidential, and if you select “Publish response only (without name)” or “Do not publish response”, your name will also be kept confidential.
That’s it! We think these are the most important questions, but if you have the time to answer more then please go ahead, just make sure you click “Finish” at the bottom of the main page when you’re done. (The Finish button only appears after you have filled in the required “About you” answers)
If you’d like to give a fuller response to the consultation, you can also see our more detailed explanation here, and you can read the full 85 page Scottish Government consultation document here.
Thinking about your response to this consultation may be stressful, and particularly traumatic if you are a survivor of conversion practice attempts.
If you are experiencing conversion practices now, have done in the past, or are worried you may you can get help and support here: https://www.lgbthealth.org.uk/services-support/conversion-practices/
Spotlights on countries around the world that already have legislation in place to end conversion practices and calls from international human rights bodies encouraging other to do the same.
A longer explanation of what conversion practices are, including examples and international support for a ban.
More detail on the legislation to end conversion practices proposed by the Scottish Government in their January 2024 consultation
Our advice on how to respond to the Scottish Government’s consultation if you have a bit of extra time to spare.
30 Bernard Street
Edinburgh EH6 6PR
+44 (0) 131 467 6039
en@equality-network.org
Equality Network is a national lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) equality and human rights charity.
The Equality Network is a registered Scottish charity: SC037852, and a company limited by guarantee: SC220213.
We are grateful for funding from the Scottish Government