Connect with us

United Kingdom

British government was abandoning conversion therapy ban, then changes course

ITV broke story on Thursday

Published

4 years ago

on

10 Downing Street decorated for London Pride 2021 (Photo courtesy of British government)

The Tory-dominated government of Prime Minister Boris Johnson, despite years of commitment to ban the practice of so-called conversion therapy, including by his predecessor, former Prime Minister Theresa May, had decided to abandon its pledge to do so.

Paul Brand, the U.K. editor for the British commercial media conglomerate ITV, in an exclusive story first published Thursday morning reported that according to a leaked document shared with ITV News, “the (prime minister) has agreed we should not move forward with legislation to ban LGBT conversion therapy.”

The “Conversion Therapy Handling Plan” briefing admits there will be a “noisy backlash from LGBT groups and some parliamentarians when we announce we do not intend to proceed,” Brand reported.

The document goes on to warn: “The LGBT sector will read this decision as a signal the government is uninterested in LGBT issues” and sets out how the fallout could be minimized.

Then hours later on Thursday Brand tweeted Johnson’s government abruptly changed course.

During last year’s Queen’s Speech in the State Opening of Parliament, a conversion therapy ban was announced, this after first being promised by the British government government in 2018.

The leaked document suggested the U-turn would be announced in this May’s Queen’s Speech, and that war in Ukraine could be used as justification.

“This will allow us to position the decision as prioritizing our legislative program, and reduces the risk of looking like we have singled out an LGBT issue,” it reads, according to ITV.

“Given the unprecedented circumstances of major pressures on cost of living and the crisis in Ukraine, there is an urgent need to rationalize our legislative program.”

ITV noted that British officials involved in drafting legislation to effect a ban had not yet been informed about the change of policy, including British Equalities Minister Liz Truss.

“While Liz is not ideologically committed to the legislation she is likely to be concerned about owning the new position, having personally committed to delivering the bill,” the document says.

Jayne Ozanne, an LGBTQ activist who quit the government’s since-disbanded LGBTQ+ Advisory Panel over its treatment of LGBTQ people, said in a statement to PinkNewsUK:

“The prime minister has shown scant regard for the lives of LGBT+ people in this callous decision, which leaves us with little option but to conclude that his word cannot be trusted.

This is by far the most significant betrayal of trust that the LGBTQ+ community has experienced in years and flies in the face of all the commitments that he, his ministers and other senior Tory MPs have made.

It is incredulous to believe that he has backtracked on such a promise, particularly given the clear evidence of significant harm to vulnerable LGBTQ+ people highlighted in his own government’s research.”

However, although as ITV reported and LGBTQ activist Peter Tatchell pointed out, the Johnson government’s reversal stopped short of a full and meaningful policy as a proposal for a transgender conversion therapy ban will not be included in any legislative efforts this next parliamentary term.

Related Topics:
Advertisement
FUND LGBTQ JOURNALISM
SIGN UP FOR E-BLAST

United Kingdom

Grindr settles UK lawsuit over claims it shared users’ personal information

Plaintiffs allege gay hookup company disclosed HIV status to third parties

Published

4 days ago

on

September 9, 2026

By

(Bigstock photo)

Grindr has agreed to pay £26 million ($35.24 million) to settle a lawsuit in the UK over allegations it shared users’ HIV status and other personal information with third parties.

The BBC on Monday reported a lawsuit was filed in the High Court of England and Wales in 2024. A class action lawsuit with more than 11,000 plaintiffs was later filed in the U.S.

Grindr in a U.S. Security and Exchange Commission filing notes the California-headquartered company as part of the settlement it reached on Sept. 2 will pay £13.0 million ($17.62 million) “to the counterparties” by Dec. 31, 2026, and another £13.0 million ($17.62 million) by March 31, 2027.

“As previously disclosed, in April 2025, Grindr Inc. and Grindr LLC, its indirect and wholly-owned operating subsidiary (collectively, ‘Grindr’), were served with proceedings in the High Court of England and Wales, which proceedings were originally issued in April 2024, brought on behalf of UK Grindr users from a period up to early 2020 alleging violations of UK privacy laws,” reads the U.S. Security and Exchange Commission filing.

“On Sept. 2, 2026, Grindr resolved the above-described UK group action related to historical data practices before 2020, when Grindr was owned and controlled by the Chinese conglomerate Kunlun,” it continues. “The settlement includes no findings or admission of liability. While Grindr disputes the allegations, it recognizes and acknowledges the distress and loss of trust expressed by some of its UK users regarding that pre-2020 period.”

The filing further notes Grindr in 2020 “was sold to new owners and appointed new management” and in 2022 became a publicly listed company on the New York Stock Exchange.

“Since 2020 Grindr has overhauled its privacy program with a keen focus on the unique needs of its community,” reads the filing. “Grindr is and remains a safe space for users, committed to transparency, user control, and responsible data practices.”

A Grindr spokesperson in the UK on Tuesday referred the Washington Blade to the filing for comment on the settlement.

Continue Reading

United Kingdom

Queen Camilla meets with JK Rowling

Edinburgh meeting took place on last day of Pride month

Published

2 months ago

on

July 2, 2026

By

(Photo via The Royal Family/X)

Queen Camilla on Tuesday met with JK Rowling.

The Royal Family on X said the meeting took place at Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh. The post included a picture of Camilla and Rowling together.

“With a shared passion for books and a deep commitment to children reading for pleasure, The queen and author JK Rowling have met at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh,” it reads. “Her Majesty and Ms. Rowling discussed the importance of ensuring that young people have access to books and the vital part reading plays in opening doors for future generations.”

Rowling over the last decade has emerged as a vocal opponent of transgender rights. Her meeting with Camilla took place on the last day of Pride month.

Continue Reading

United Kingdom

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to resign

Announcement comes after Labour Party election loses, ambassador scandal

Published

3 months ago

on

June 22, 2026

By

British Prime Minister Kier Starmer announces his resignation on June 22, 2026. (Screen capture via The Telegraph/YouTube)

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday announced he will step down once his party chooses his successor.

Starmer succeeded Rishi Sunak of the Conservative Party in No. 10 Downing St. in 2024.

The Labour Party included a ban on so-called conversion therapy in England and Wales in its elections manifesto. King Charles III in last month’s King Speech that he delivered in the British House of Lords said a transgender-inclusive ban is among the British government’s legislative priorities.

Charles delivered his King’s Speech days after the Labour lost more than 1,000 council seats in local and regional elections. The May 7 vote took place against the backdrop of widespread criticism over Starmer’s decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the U.S., despite his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

Former Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is seen as the frontrunner to become Labour’s new leader — and the UK’s next prime minister. Burnham was sworn in as an MP in the House of Commons hours after Starmer announced his resignation.

Starmer in his resignation announcement said he expects his successor will be in place before MPs return from their summer recess on Sept. 1.

Continue Reading

Popular