A QUARTER of LGBT+ sexual violence victims may have been attacked in an attempt to “convert or punish” them.
LGBT+ anti-abuse charity Galop conducted a survey to explore the motives behind sexual violence in the UK.
It revealed that 23.5% of people surveyed believe the attacks carried out were in an attempt to convert or punish them for their sexual orientation or gender identity.
The survey found this type of attack mostly affected 18 to 24-year-olds, which shows so-called conversion therapy is rife, rather than a thing of the past, Galop believes.
READ MORE: France bans conversion therapy
The report comes as Galop recently launched the National Conversion Therapy Helpline to support victims and survivors of conversion therapy.
Around 2% of LGBT+ people have been put through conversion therapy, the Government Equalities Office said.
In a 2018 study of LGBTQI+ people of faith in Brighton showed that approximately 9% had undergone conversion therapy, according to Switchboard, an LGBTQ charity in the city.
Leni Morris, CEO of LGBT+ anti-abuse charity Galop, said: “Being LGBT+ is not a disease, and therefore there is no cure.
“What so-called ‘conversion therapies’ do achieve is serious psychologic and emotional, and sometimes physical, trauma to the victims and, for many victims, the repercussions are life-long.”
The UK government is set to introduce a legislative ban on conversion therapy, sometimes referred to as “reparative therapy”, with public consultation on how to ban the practices open until Friday, 4 February.
The Galop helpline is open 10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday on 0800 130 3335.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel