Outdated and harmful practice should be outlawed

LGBT campaigners and the Scottish Government have backed plans to outlaw conversion therapy by the UK government.

However a public consultation will take place before the ban after religious leaders spoke out.

Conversion therapy attempts to suppress someone’s sexuality or changing their gender, with many professional bodies saying it is harmful.

Religious groups however say an outright ban could make it illegal for them to use prayer if someone was confused about their sexual identity or gender.

Peter Lynans of the Evangelical Alliance said it welcomed the consultation process.

"We want to avoid the situation were a person can be accused of conversion therapy for praying with someone who freely chooses and asks for prayer," he said.

Theresa May's government promised to end conversion therapy as part of its LGBT equality plan.

Prime minister Boris Johnson said plans for a ban would be brought forward.

A short consultation will be held before the legislation is finalised, asking the public and interested parties how best to address the problem.

Stonewall's chief executive Nancy Kelley said a "full and comprehensive bill" must look to ban conversion practices "in all forms and in all settings".

The ban will apply to England and Wales but the Scottish government "fully supports moves by the UK government to end conversion therapy", a spokesperson said.

A U.K. Government survey of over 100,000 LGBTQ people found at least 7% have had or been offered the pseudo-scientific practice condemned the World Health Organisation and NHS.