Welsh Government to Pursue Total Conversion Therapy Ban

metroweekly.com:

refusing to ban the practice of conversion therapy on transgender individuals, the government of Wales plans institute a ban of its own.By signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with NHS Wales — the country’s publicly funded healthcare system — Welsh government Deputy Minister for Social Partnership Hannah Blythyn stated that the practice will be “prohibited” in Wales.

Any organization, group, or company that works in “mental or psychological health” and sign onto the MOU makes a “commitment” to not offer conversion therapy in the country, though this agreement does not extend to other parts of the United Kingdom.Based on further statements made Blythyn, this move only appears to be a temporary solution to the question of a conversion therapy ban as the Welsh governmnet “seeks legal advice” to find out how it can “unilaterally” ban the practice.

The government will also be undergoing a process to “better understand” the lasting, negative impacts of conversion therapy.“We will establish a working group of experts, to include representatives from faith communities; the health and social care sector; and children and young people’s representatives, alongside LGBTQ+ people to help with this work and advise on key elements as a ban is developed,” Blythyn said.This move by the Welsh government represents yet another wave of resistance to Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s — and by extension, the United kingdom government’s — choice to keep transgender conversion therapy in place.

Already, citizens have protested the decision, many LGBTQ organizations (across the world) have condemned it, and elected officials within the United Kingdom government have criticized Johnson for it.With the Welsh government not only actively.