Home > News > Joint statement on the Scottish Government’s announcement regarding ending conversion practices
2 May 2025 | News
Joint statement from Scottish LGBTQIA+ organisations on the Scottish Government’s announcement regarding ending conversion practices
We are incredibly disappointed to see that the Scottish Government will not progress a bill to end conversion practices within this parliament before the Scottish Parliament election next year. The Scottish Government have said today that ‘engagement will continue with the UK government for a Bill covering England, Wales and Scotland’, and that ‘if this approach cannot be agreed, then we commit to publishing our own Bill in Year 1 of the next Parliamentary session.’
Our thoughts are, foremost, with survivors of conversion practices in Scotland and beyond who have worked tirelessly to make a Scottish bill a reality: giving their time, reliving their traumas and sharing their stories. Yet another delay does a disservice to their hard work and sacrifices. Simply put, the longer it takes to legislate to end conversion practices the more harm will be done, including to those most vulnerable.
For a long time now, the LGBTQIA+ community has felt that our rights are being rolled back and reduced, rather than upheld and progressed. Following so closely on the heels of the UK Supreme Court judgment that has only intensified this feeling, the failure to progress this bill is yet another blow to our community’s faith in government and the institutions that are meant to represent and protect us.
We understand the practical argument for collaborating with the UK Government on a UK-wide bill, especially if there may be risks of legal challenges regarding devolved competence as there were with the Gender Recognition Reform Bill, and it is of great importance that LGBTQIA+ people across the UK are protected from these harmful practices.
However, we also understand that many people will be very concerned about the likelihood of the current UK Government introducing a bill to end conversion practices that sufficiently protects all LGBTQIA+ people across all parts of society, especially trans and non-binary people.
The Scottish Government’s Minister for Equalities has assured us this morning that they have certain ‘red lines’ for what must be included in a UK Government bill in order for them to be satisfied that it will be effective in ending conversion practices. These include:
These ‘red lines’ are elements derived from the Scottish Government’s draft Bill proposals, and reflect the input and priorities of LGBTQIA+ community members, survivors of conversion practices, and international experts, lawyers, and academics. We hope that if a UK bill does go forward, that these elements are fully incorporated into the law, and that the years of hard work put into this by our community is fully acknowledged.
Should it not be possible to agree on a Bill that adheres to the Scottish Government’s red lines, they have committed to introducing a Bill in the Scottish Parliament in the first year of the next parliamentary session. This will of course be subject to the result of the 2026 Scottish Parliamentary Election, but we will hold them accountable to this.
Whilst we acknowledge the distress that the news will bring, we remain hopeful that the Scottish Government remains committed to ending conversion practices. We know that work on non-legislative support measures in Scotland is still underway.
Our work on conversion practices will continue and we will do our best to be part of this work at UK level. We will do everything we can to ensure that the Scottish Government’s red lines are upheld, that we are heard and that any Bill that is brought forward protects everyone in our community to finally end these abusive practices in their entirety.
If you would like to access LGBTQ+ specific support in light of this news, you can contact the GALOP helpline:
LGBT Health and Wellbeing runs a LGBTQIA+ support helpline, including specialist support for those who are experiencing conversion practices, have done in the past, or are worried they might. You can access the helpline Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays (12-9pm) and Sundays (1-6pm):
You can keep up with the work of our organisations here:
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LGBT Health and Wellbeing: Website / Facebook / Instagram
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Equality Network is a national lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) equality and human rights charity.
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