26/06/2026
Today the LGB Alliance UK released a statement on the draft Conversion Practices Bill which is being widely shared. The essence goes as follows:
"what will this Bill mean for young people who are simply gay or bisexual? We've read the legislation carefully. Our conclusion is that it risks making it harder for those young people to receive the time, conversations and exploratory support that have helped generations of same-sex attracted people understand and accept themselves. And, despite what the Government claims, it risks criminalising the very people society relies on to protect vulnerable young people - parents whose primary concern is keeping their children safe, whole and healthy, and therapists whose role is to help them explore difficult questions with care and compassion.."
As N. Ireland's oldest LGBTQIA+ community support and service delivery organisation, with decades of experience in running N. Ireland's LGBTQIA+ youth services and parental support services we have also read the legislation carefully and we categorically refute the concerns expressed by LGB Alliance UK.
The Bill makes it no harder whatsoever for young people to receive the time, conversations and exploratory support that have helped generations of same-sex attracted people understand and accept themselves. We know this because the many thousands of young people and their parents who we work with tell us so. We know this because the other UK organisations who actually provide support to LGBTQIA+ young people and their parents tell us so. We know this because we have the experience, the expertise and the data.
We also have numerous reports of therapists who have engaged in Conversion Practices over the years and we can honestly say that we have never encountered such a therapist who was at all concerned with helping young people explore difficult questions with care and compassion. In fact they have done the exact opposite and inflicted long lasting psychological damage on many young people, which has even resulted in the loss of life.
At Cara-Friend all members of the LGBTQIA+ family will always be welcome. Whether you are a young person or the parent of a young person, we will always be here for you. You will receive the time, the conversation, the exploratory support, the care and the compassion that you need.
The draft Bill does not apply to N. Ireland. Yet it is important at this time of increasing Transphobia in our society for all of the LGBTQIA+ community in the UK and Ireland to stand together.
Equality is for all or it is for no-one.
There is no LGB without the T.
