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ECT Scotland @endconversiontherapy.scot · 01/09/2026

Today the @snp.org made Scotland the only UK nation without a bill to ban conversion practices. This is not good enough. If they won't stand up for our rights, we'll do it without them.

Today the SNP made Scotland the only UK nation without a bill to ban conversion practices.

This is not good enough.

If they won't stand up for our rights, we'll do it without them.

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ECT Scotland @endconversiontherapy.scot · 29/08/2026

Today we emailed @simitakumar.bsky.social, @sa4dunfermline.bsky.social, and @johnswinney.bsky.social urging them to abide by their promise to the LGBTQ+ community and bring forward a ban on conversion practices in the first year of the new Scottish Government.

Dear Simita Kumar MSP, Shirley Ann-Somerville MSP, and John Swinney MSP,

With the Scottish Programme for Government imminent we urge you to ensure that it includes a core part of your promise to the LGBTQ+ community in your manifesto — delivery of your inclusive and comprehensive ban on conversion practices within your first year of government.

You pledged in your manifesto to deliver this bill, and protect LGBTQ+ people from this abusive practice, if no such effort would be forthcoming from Westminster. We now know this to be the case.

We know there is no likelihood of any comprehensive and inclusive bill coming from a Labour Government that remains entirely committed to the eradication of trans healthcare and the segregation of trans people in society. Over the past weeks we have seen evidence of its continue commitment to both. A truly trans-inclusive ban on conversion practices is entirely incompatible with their choices to continue this exclusionary and discriminatory campaign.

We know that the draft bill that was published in the last days of Keir Starmer’s premiership is not only insufficient to be considered a comprehensive ban, it could even make the fight against conversion practices more difficult. It’s lack of mention of suppression of behaviours aligns with the anti-trans EHRC guidance to enable forcing LGBTQ+ people back into the closet without sanction. It’s reliance on LGBTQ+ people to prove severe harm or distress risks re-traumatising survivors and making successful prosecutions difficult. It’s enormous carve-out for healthcare, both regulated and unregulated, provides a conversion practitioner's charter — making clear to them how to market their abusive practices to give themselves complete immunity to any sanction.

You pledged in your manifesto to ensure a ban would be introduced in Scotland. Scotland presently stands as the only nation in the UK without a draft bill having been introduced. It also, from our work together over the last five years, has the strongest possible draft legislation ready to produce.

To turn back now would be a betrayal of your promise to the LGBTQ+ community made in your manifesto and over the past five years. To proceed and deliver this ban could be a significant step towards returning Scotland to the forefront of the fight for LGBTQ+ rights where we proudly stood for so long.

Today our community feels assailed from all sides by discrimination and hatred. We have faced betrayals and surrenders by many who we once considered allies. The UK has a whole has plummeted down LGBTQ+ equality rankings as the community is put at risk to placate forces of hatred that can never be placated.

Scotland can be a nation again where the LGBTQ+ community feels safe and supported. We hope you share a belief in that future, too.

Yours,

The ECT Campaign Team

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ECT Scotland @endconversiontherapy.scot · 25/06/2026

The draft bill also includes the discredited concept of these practices involving "causing to have a trans identity" - and similar for non-heterosexual orientations. There are no such conversion practices. Conversion practices are anti-LGBTQ+ abuse. The idea of pro-LGBTQ+ conversion is a myth.

(b) causing the individual—
(i) to have or not to have,
(ii) to believe that they have or do not have,
a transgender identity or a particular transgender identity.

(a) causing the individual—
(i) to have or not to have,
(ii) to believe that they have or do not have,
a sexual orientation or a particular sexual orientation; or

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ECT Scotland @endconversiontherapy.scot · 09/05/2026

The latest Scottish parliamentary election delivered a significant majority in support of LGBTQ+ rights and a ban on conversion practices. Now it is time to deliver, no more delays. The Scottish people have spoken. They have backed inclusion and rejected the politics of hate.

A MAJORITY FOR A BAN
83/129
SNP 58
SGP 15
SLD 10
Nearly a 2/3rds majority elected to the Scottish Parliament on inclusive LGBTQ+ manifestos backing a ban on conversion practices and other supportive policies!
Calls for a comprehensive ban on conversion therapy covering all settings
Calls on the UK Government to remove its block on much-needed Gender Recognition legislation and update it with international best practice
Significant manifesto commitments to unlocking and improving provision of trans healthcare.
Manifesto Pledges
Supports banning all forms of conversion therapies and practices
Supports inclusive education in schools, and Gender Recognition Reform at a UK level
Supports an inclusive ban within the first year of the Scottish Parliament
“We are committed to upholding and protecting the human rights of trans people as far as possible within our powers and we will do all we can to ensure that trans people’s identities are recognised and respected”
Supports inclusive education

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ECT Scotland @endconversiontherapy.scot · 09/05/2026

Thank you to the candidates who pledged to back our campaign and have been elected to the Scottish Parliament as our MSPs! We look forward to working with you as champions of delivering LGBTQ+ liberation over the next five years.

Pledged to support a comprehensive and trans-inclusive ban on conversion practices without exceptions or exemptions
Pledged to defend an inclusive society where every LGBTQ+ person is free to live as who they are at home, at work, and in our community
Pledged to oppose institutionalised conversion practices through the denial of healthcare to trans people
Our Elected Pledged Candidates
Patrick Harvie
Lorna Slater
Q Manivannan
Ross Greer
Pauline Stafford
Ben MacPherson
Maggie Chapman
Clare Haughey
Kate Nevens
Laura Moodie
Alison Thewliss
Cara McKee
Maree Todd
Kristopher Leask

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ECT Scotland @endconversiontherapy.scot · 06/05/2026

Tomorrow we hope that Scotland will deliver a majority to deliver a ban on conversion practices within the first term of the new Scottish Parliament. The time for delay is over. We can finally end this abuse. Find our analysis of party manifestos here: endconversiontherapy.scot#/holyrood26/...

To support a comprehensive and trans-inclusive ban on conversion practices without exceptions or exemptions
To defend an inclusive society where every LGBTQ+ person is free to live as who they are at home, at work, and in our community
To oppose institutionalised conversion practices through the denial of healthcare to trans people
I’ve pledged to support the ECT’s campaign to end conversion practices in Scotland if elected to the Scottish Parliament on
May 7th.

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ECT Scotland @endconversiontherapy.scot · 06/05/2026

Our final announcement of candidate pledges before polls open tomorrow! We are still open to further pledges and will update our website ASAP with any incoming pledges from candidates. Find our candidates and constituency here: endconversiontherapy.scot#/holyrood26/...

Pledge to support a comprehensive and trans-inclusive ban on conversion practices without exceptions or exemptions
Pledge to defend an inclusive society where every LGBTQ+ person is free to live as who they are at home, at work, and in our community
Pledge to oppose institutionalised conversion practices through the denial of healthcare to trans people
Backed Our Pledges
Patrick Harvie
Glasgow List
Lorna Slater
Edinburgh and Lothians East List
Desmond Bouce
Ayr
Remi Salvan
North East Scotland List
The Final Candidates
Mags Hall
Mid Scotland and Fife List

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ECT Scotland @endconversiontherapy.scot · 29/04/2026

With just over a week to go our numbers are continuing to rise - - @ch1453.bsky.social - Ross Stalker - @mareetodd.bsky.social - @qmanivannan.bsky.social - @houstinium.bsky.social - William Linegar

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ECT Scotland @endconversiontherapy.scot · 27/04/2026

A mix from the three top manifesto parties today: - @ross-greer.bsky.social - @paulinestaffordsnp.bsky.social - Jack Clark - @benmacpherson.bsky.social - @caronmlindsay.bsky.social - @clarehaugheysnp.bsky.social Find your candidates: endconversiontherapy.scot#/holyrood26/...

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ECT Scotland @endconversiontherapy.scot · 18/04/2026

Our manifesto week pledges! The next eight candidates who have signed up to all three of our campaign pledges for the Scottish Parliamentary elections. Find your candidates and ask them to sign: endconversiontherapy.scot#/holyrood26/...

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ECT Scotland @endconversiontherapy.scot · 17/04/2026

We have reviewed every published manifesto for the Scottish Parliamentary elections. Four parties have positive manifestos: - @scottishgreens.org - @snp.org - @scotlibdems.org.uk - @equalityparty.bsky.social Listed by their score from our analysis. endconversiontherapy.scot#/holyrood26/...

Candidates 2026
Inclusive Ban In Manifesto

Scottish National Party

✅✅?

Scottish Liberal Democrats

✅−✅−?

Scottish Labour Party

?❌❌

Reform

?❌?

Scottish Conservative Party

?❌❌

Scottish Green Party

✅?+✅

Alliance To Liberate Scotland

?

Scottish Family Party

✗

Scottish Socialist Party

UKIP

✗

Workers Party

?

Alliance For Democracy and Freedom

✗

Advance UK

✗

ISP

✗

IGV

✗

Scottish Common Party

?

Scottish Libertarian Party

?−

TUSC

?

Socialist Labour Party

?

Animal Welfare Party

?

Heritage Party

?−

Equality Party

✅

Christian Party

✗

Edinburgh & East Lothian People

?−

Scottish Rural Party

The Liberal Party

?

Abolish The Scottish Parliament Party

?

Communist Party Of Britain

✗

Freedom Alliance

?−

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ECT Scotland @endconversiontherapy.scot · 14/04/2026

Better news with the next major party manifesto launch today - with nearly full marks to the @scottishgreens.org. The Scottish Greens are also the leading party for candidate pledges, with nearly 20% of their candidates backing the campaign! Contact your candidates and ask them to pledge.

Home
Background
Petition
Holyrood '26

Holyrood '21

Press and Policy
Candidates 2026
Inclusive Ban In Manifesto

Scottish National Party

Scottish Liberal Democrats

Scottish Labour Party

?❌❌

Reform

Scottish Conservative Party

Scottish Green Party

✅?+✅

Alliance To Liberate Scotland

Scottish Family Party

✗

Scottish Socialist Party

UKIP

Workers Party

Alliance For Democracy and Freedom

Advance U K

IFSP

IGV

Scottish Common Party

Scottish Libertarian Party

TUSC

Socialist Labour Party

Animal Welfare Party

Heritage Party

Equality Party

Christian Party

Edinburgh East Lothian People

Scottish Rural Party

The Liberal Party

Abolish The Scottish Parliament Party

Communist Party Of Britain

Freedom Alliance

Party Pledge Tracker (19 pledged)
SNP

5/97 pledged

LibDems

2/77 pledged

SGP

11/58 pledged

Independent

1/32 pledged

Labour

0/75 pledged

Reform

0/71 pledged

Conservatives

0/63 pledged

Alliance To Liberate Scotland

0/35 pledged

Scottish Family Party

0/34 pledged

Scottish Socialist Party

0/21 pledged

UKIP

0/

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ECT Scotland @endconversiontherapy.scot · 13/04/2026

Unfortunately as the first election manifestos have been unveiled it has not been positive news for our campaign. After the Family Party - The Scottish Labour Party manifesto is clearly hostile to our existence in public life and society, with segregationist policy announced even to "everyday life"

ECT Home Background Petition Holyrood '26 Holyrood '21 Press and Policy
Candidates 2026
Inclusive Ban In Manifesto
୪
REFORM UK
Scottish National Party
Scottish Liberal
Scottish Labour
Reform
Democrats
Party
? XX
Scottish Conservatives
XI
Scottish Conservative Party
SCOTTISH
GREENS
Scottish Green Party
Socialis
ADF
ADVANCE UK
ISP
AND
сра
HENTAGE PARTY
GREEN
Animal Welfare Party
Equa...
EDINBURGH EAST LOTHAN PEOPLE
SRP
Allia...
Scot... Scot...
UKIP
To...
Fami... Soci...
Wor... Allia... Adv... Party For... UK
IFSP
IGV Scot... Scot... Com... Liber...
TUSC
Soci...
Ani...
Herit...
Party
Chri...
Edin... Scot...
The Abol... Com... Free...
Labo... Welf... Party
Party East.. Rura... Liber... The... Part... Allia...
X

• Delivering single-sex spaces on the basis of biological sex, in NHS wards, schools, sport and everyday life by upholding the Equality Act and delivering clear instructions to public services on how to comply with their legal obligations to women and to trans people.
Keeping women's prisons for women, instructing the Scottish Prison Service to remove all biologically male prisoners from women's prisons within days of the election.
• Recommit the NHS to delivering single sex wards on the basis of biological sex, and ensuring patients can request same sex provision wherever possible.
Work to deliver a conversion practices ban on a four nation basis to prevent the creation of any possible loopholes across the UK and protect LGBT+ people from harmful conversion practices.

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ECT Scotland @endconversiontherapy.scot · 05/04/2026

One week into the campaign and we're starting to get more candidates coming forward to back our campaign. With 8 new candidates the statistics by party are: 6 @scottishgreens.org 5 @snp.org 2 @scotlibdems.org.uk 1 Independent

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ECT Scotland @endconversiontherapy.scot · 04/04/2026

Our first six signatories of our pledge for the Scottish Parliamentary elections 2026. Find our full request here: endconversiontherapy.scot#/holyrood26/... @alexstaniforth.bsky.social @johnredpathsnp.bsky.social @maggiechapman.bsky.social @indymichaelg.bsky.social

Backed Our Pledges
The First Candidates
Pledge to support a comprehensive and trans-inclusive ban on conversion practices without exceptions or exemptions
Pledge to defend an inclusive society where every LGBTQ+ person is free to live as who they are at home, at work, and in our community
Pledge to oppose institutionalised conversion practices through the denial of healthcare to trans people
Maggie Chapman
North East Scotland List
John Redpath
Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire
Alex Staniforth
Edinburgh and Lothians East List
Kristopher Leask
Highlands and Islands List
Isabel Ruffell
Glasgow List
Michael Gibbons
West Scotland List

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ECT Scotland @endconversiontherapy.scot · 25/03/2026

Thank you to our long ally in parliament @joefitzsnp.bsky.social for using his last speech in parliament to secure this pledge from the First Minister. A conversion practices ban is ready to deliver in the first year of the next parliament.

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ECT Scotland @endconversiontherapy.scot · 22/03/2026

Our Holyrood elections 2026 pledge will begin landing in candidate inboxes today. All responses (or lack of) will be recorded on our website. If you are a candidate you can also reach out to us directly with your pledge. You can find our full email here:

Dear candidate,

Conversion practices (sometimes marketed as conversion therapy) aim to change or suppress an individual’s sexual orientation, to suppress their sexual attraction or behaviours, or to change an individual’s gender identity to match the sex they were assigned at birth.

Conversion therapy, the forced conditioning against a person’s sexuality or gender identity, has damaged generations of LGBTQ+ young people and adults and continues to do so. Almost two-thirds of respondents to a survey on the practice had suffered from mental health issues as a result of experiencing conversion therapy, and nearly a third said they had sought counselling to help them recover from it. Mental health issues caused by experiences of Conversion Therapy include many experiencing self-harm, eating disorders, and attempted suicide. These practices are a form of coercive abuse, they cannot be consented to and all LGBTQ+ people deserve to be protected from them.

A majority of those who have experienced the practice support a criminal ban. Our call for a ban is backed by a UN independent expert report to the Human Rights Council, religious leaders from across the world, and Healthcare and Counselling organisations from across the UK.

We are asking for you to make three pledges:
Pledge to support a comprehensive and trans-inclusive ban on conversion practices without exceptions or exemptions
Pledge to defend an inclusive society where every LGBTQ+ person is free to live as who they are at home, at work, and in our community
Pledge to oppose institutionalised conversion practices through the denial of healthcare to trans people

Legislation to deliver a comprehensive ban in Scotland has been drafted by the Scottish Government in preparation to be brought to Parliament before being delayed on potential action being brought by the UK Government. It is now clear that no such ban is coming from the UK Government and the Scottish Parliament must act to deliver the ban promised for the past few years.

Legislation must include protections for the whole LGBTQ+ community with:
a ban on causing a person to undergo conversion therapy
a ban on removing a minor from Scotland to undergo conversion therapy abroad
a ban on providing conversion therapy
a ban on advertising an offer to provide conversion therapy

Legislation must not include:
exemptions or exceptions for any faith or community
exemptions or exceptions for "consent"

We believe that with a draft bill already prepared that this ban can be delivered within the first year of the new Scottish Parliamentary Term. We hope we have your support.

Yours faithfully,
The End Conversion Therapy Scotland Team

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ECT Scotland @endconversiontherapy.scot · 09/03/2026

This evening we wrote to Scottish ministers after another attack on provision of trans haircare by the UK Government It is vital that the ScotGov now assumes no ban on conversion practices will come from the UK Government. We must provide a safe harbour in Scotland #scottish #scotland #lgbtrights

To those concerned,

In the early hours of this morning it was announced that NHS England is stopping all new prescriptions of trans healthcare to under-18s.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly0ppdzj2yo

There is no justification for this decision other than what we already knew - that the UK Government wants to end all support for trans people through the NHS. Threats of bans on sex hormones through private providers continues this clear campaign to end the ability of trans people to transition in the UK.

This is conversion practices by medical institution and regulation. It is absolutely evident that the UK Government has no interest in a comprehensive and inclusive ban on conversion practices. To deliver that would be to criminalise their own Health Secretary.

This follows only days after Aberdeen-based academic Professor Jacob George was recused from the MHRA puberty blockers clinical trial after the discovery of openly transphobic comments he had made regularly on social media, that made clear his belief that trans identities are not valid.

With all of this now so open it is vital that the Scottish Government commits to proceeding alone with a comprehensive and inclusive conversion practices ban. There is no ban coming from the UK Government and we can be a safe harbour for those now threatened by that Government inflicting the very abuse they were promised protection from.

We are asking for commitments to:
- Immediately bring forward a comprehensive and trans-inclusive ban on conversion practices without exceptions
- Pledge not to follow the approach of the UK Government of institutionalised conversion practices through the denial of healthcare to trans people
- To end the indefinite block on puberty blockers with an independent study not under the control of an anti-trans Government push to end trans healthcare in the UK.

Yours sincerely,
The End Conversion Therapy Scotland Team

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ECT Scotland @endconversiontherapy.scot · 17/05/2025

We met with the Scottish Government and made clear that we were frustrated and disappointed by the decision to drop the conversion practices Bill. But even with this decision they can still act. They can still display they have not abandoned the LGBTQ+ community.

They can still act
Even having dropped the bill to ban conversion practices in this parliament the Scottish Government is still capable of acting to support survivors of this abusive practice and to display that they have not abandoned the LGBTQ+ community

Investment into trans healthcare and launching the puberty blockers trial that will prevent withholding of healthcare being used as a means to prevent transition
Pushback on EHRC interim guidance that threatens to enforce conversion practices on trans people through Scottish institutions including schools and healthcare providers
Implementation of non-legislative measures from expert advisory group recommendations
Targeted education and outreach programmes
Establishing an international academic research project
Survivor support measures
Support within medical institutions
Reporting mechanism for conversion practices
Continued support for the helpline

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ECT Scotland @endconversiontherapy.scot · 02/05/2025

Our statement on the decision by the Scottish Government to drop the bill to ban conversion practices in this parliament.

The Scottish Government has dropped the ban on conversion practices.

This is the latest in a growing list of betrayals for LGBTQ+ Scots from this Scottish Government. Scotland could have banned conversion therapy years ago.

Instead queer people need to continue to suffer from these evil practices while we wait for our governments to grow a spine. Every day in Scotland, vulnerable people are being degraded, punished and in some cases tortured, just because they are LGBTQ+.

LGBTQ+ rights are under attack right now, in a way we haven’t seen since Thatcher’s Section 28 ban on ‘promoting homosexuality’. Queer people are crying out for some solidarity from politicians. Instead this news is a stab in the back. Last weekend thousands of people across Scotland rallied behind the trans community. Rather than meeting the moment, the Scottish Government has abandoned them.

The longer our governments wait to take decisive action, the more fear and anger that bigots can whip up against the LGBTQ+ community. The law could have been changed years ago but our so-called leaders were too scared to stand up for queer rights and kicked this issue into the long grass. Politicians who run elections campaigns promising change then throw queer people under the bus should be ashamed of themselves.

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ECT Scotland @endconversiontherapy.scot · 20/11/2024

Today is trans day of remembrance. Trans people are increasingly the targets of abuse and oppression in the form of conversion practices. We can end the scourge of conversion practices in Scotland in 2025. The time has come to deliver.

Trail of candles
Transgender day of remembrance
We can end the scourge of conversion practices in Scotland in 2025

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ECT Scotland @endconversiontherapy.scot · 04/09/2024

The proposals for a ban on conversion practices are ready and have been consulted on, the legislation can be brought to parliament this year - instead the Scottish Government has chosen to kick it into the long grass. This should be seen as what it is, a betrayal of LGBTQ+ people.

Scottish Government Programme for Government 2023-24:
“Progress the Scottish Government’s commitment to a Bill on ending conversion practices.”

Scottish Government Programme for Government 2024-25:
“Progressing our commitment to ending conversion practices… should a UK-wide approach not be achievable.”

Two years since the Expert Advisory Group provided its report and recommendations the Scottish Government's progress on a ban on conversion practices has stalled. We have seen no movement since the consultation on detailed proposals for the legislation closed six months ago. The proposals are ready and have been consulted on, the legislation can be brought to parliament this year - instead the Scottish Government has chosen to kick it into the long grass with a Programme for Government that has been copy-and-pasted from last year's to display zero progress towards change.

Instead what we see with this Programme for Government is a step backwards from a dedication to deliver a Bill built on the principles set out by the expert advisory group and instead one of waiting to see what is delivered by Westminster. An approach we have seen is far more likely to leave the most vulnerable in our community behind.

This should be seen as what it is, a betrayal of LGBTQ+ people who have already been waiting four years for the Scottish Parliament to progress on this issue and been faced by a Government content to sit on its hands as the increasing risk of the abuse of conversion therapy continues to threaten our community. The Scottish Government seems set not to raise this before parliament until the next election year, at which point it will become fodder in the culture wars fought over each election. We deserve better, and this delay is inexcusable.

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ECT Scotland @endconversiontherapy.scot · 26/08/2024

Our statement on the upcoming Programme for Government from the Scottish Government. It is time to put policy into practice. This year we expect a commitment to deliver the ban. Alt text continued in second image.

In the last Programme for Government there was a commitment to ‘progress the Scottish Government’s commitment to a Bill on ending conversion practices’. In this one we expect to see a commitment to deliver it.

It has been over three years since the Scottish Government was elected on a manifesto promise to deliver this ban, nearly two years since the Expert Advisory Group provided its report and recommendations, and nearly five months since the consultation on detailed proposals for legislation to end conversion practices in Scotland was closed.

Now, it is time to put policy into practice, and bring this terrible abuse of our community to an end.

We are concerned that any further delays to a bill being introduced risks this issue being subjected to the same campaign of disinformation faced by Gender Recognition Reform, and delaying into 2025-26 risks becoming a political football ahead of the 2026 election, once again putting our community in the spotlight and our lives, safety, and

dignity up for debate.

The LGBTQ+ community deserves better. We hope to see a commitment to bring a bill before parliament within the next year in this Programme for Government. We hope that all parties of the Scottish Parliament will see this as an opportunity to unite against conversion practices as they did in their 2021 manifestoes. It is past time that words and promises became action.

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ECT Scotland @endconversiontherapy.scot · 31/03/2024

FINAL TWO DAYS The consultation on the bill to ban conversion practices in Scotland closes on Tuesday the 2nd of April. Find the guide on responding below. It takes just 5 minutes. Help us deliver an end to this abuse once and for all: www.equality-network.org/cp

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ECT Scotland @endconversiontherapy.scot · 14/03/2024

Trans people and research about them were a target of the Nazi regime. The Institut für Sexualwissenschaft was a primary target for book burnings. Denying this is a form of Holocaust denial. This should be beneath mockery and contempt. www.hmd.org.uk/resource/6-m...

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ECT Scotland @endconversiontherapy.scot · 08/11/2023

The next big step towards a ban on conversion practices is coming later this year. The consultation will be an important moment to ensure that this ban is thorough and inclusive ahead of it coming to Parliament next year.

Conversion practices which aim to change or suppress someone's sexual orientation or gender identity have no place in society.

We will launch a consultation on a law to end conversion practices in Scotland this year.

Support is available for survivors. Read our thread 🧵

Funded by @scotgov, @LGBTHealthy deliver confidential support to survivors of conversion practices by:

☎️Phone: 0800 464 7000
✉️Email: helpline@lgbthealth.org.uk
💻Web chat: lgbthealth.org.uk

⏰Support is available Tuesday - Thursday, 12 pm - 9 pm and Sunday, 1 pm - 6 pm.

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