UK set to cancel global LGBT+ conference over conversion therapy row
Skip to main content
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
  • Epaper
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • COVID-19
    • Bangladesh
    • Splash
    • Videos
    • Games
    • Long Read
    • Infograph
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Thoughts
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Archive
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
    • Supplement
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Thursday
June 30, 2022

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
  • Epaper
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • COVID-19
    • Bangladesh
    • Splash
    • Videos
    • Games
    • Long Read
    • Infograph
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Thoughts
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Archive
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
    • Supplement
  • বাংলা
THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 2022
UK set to cancel global LGBT+ conference over conversion therapy row

World+Biz

Reuters
06 April, 2022, 03:05 pm
Last modified: 06 April, 2022, 03:05 pm

Related News

  • Ukraine's 'unicorn' LGBTQ soldiers head for war
  • Florida set to strip Disney of self-governing status in dispute over LGBTQ law
  • Pixar employees claim Disney censors LGBTQ love in its films: 'Every moment of overtly gay affection is cut'
  • Israel to open surrogacy to same-sex couples as of next week
  • Marvel 'Eternals' banned in Gulf countries

UK set to cancel global LGBT+ conference over conversion therapy row

Reuters
06 April, 2022, 03:05 pm
Last modified: 06 April, 2022, 03:05 pm
LGBT+ activists protest against homophobic crimes following the death of Samuel Luiz, who was attacked outside a club in A Coruna, in Barcelona, Spain, July 9, 2021. REUTERS/Nacho Doce
LGBT+ activists protest against homophobic crimes following the death of Samuel Luiz, who was attacked outside a club in A Coruna, in Barcelona, Spain, July 9, 2021. REUTERS/Nacho Doce

Britain is set to abandon plans to hold a flagship conference designed to promote LGBT+ rights around the world following a row over conversion therapy that has prompted charities and organisations to boycott it.

Britain had been due to host the Safe to Be Me conference in London in June to urge governments to tackle inequality and discrimination and enable people to live free from prejudice.

But a decision to ban conversion therapy for gay or bisexual people in England and Wales, and not for transgender people, has prompted charities to withdraw from the event and the country's first LGBT+ business champion, Iain Anderson, to quit.

Anderson said in a public letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday that it was wrong to create dividing lines. "Now - more than ever - we need tolerance and respect in our national conversations," he said.

British media, citing government sources, said the conference would no longer go ahead. A spokesperson said it was disappointing to see partners withdraw but added: "The complexity of issues requires separate work to further consider transgender conversion therapy."

When asked about the conference the spokesperson did not dispute the reports it had been cancelled and said "the government is now considering how to proceed."

Johnson's government had come under increasing pressure on conversion therapy after former leader Theresa May vowed in 2018 to eradicate a procedure that aims to change or suppress someone's sexual orientation or gender identity.

Some campaigners had argued against a ban for conversion therapy for transgender people because they said it could prevent or complicate discussions about gender identity with parents or health officials.

A lawmaker in the ruling party, Jamie Wallis, said last week that he planned to change his gender identity to become Britain's first openly transgender member of parliament. He said he was bitterly disappointed at the conversion therapy decision.

British Health Secretary Sajid Javid said on Wednesday the government had taken the right decision.

Lawmakers, including in Johnson's Conservative Party, said they were dismayed about the conference. "We had such a huge opportunity to prove the UK (and the Conservative Party) is a defender of freedom. As a Conservative member of the LGBT+ community, it is so wrong it has come to this," Dehenna Davison said on Twitter.

lgbtq / LGBTQ Rights / LGBT

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Representational image
    Some amnesty for offshore assets kept, corporate taxes cut
  • RnB artist R Kelly. Photo: Getty Images via BBC
    US Artist R Kelly sentenced to 30 years on sexual abuse charges
  • Saudi Arabia to celebrate Eid-ul-Adha on 9 July
    Saudi Arabia to celebrate Eid-ul-Adha on 9 July

MOST VIEWED

  • Saudi Arabia to celebrate Eid-ul-Adha on 9 July
    Saudi Arabia to celebrate Eid-ul-Adha on 9 July
  • File Photo: Reuters
    Israeli soldiers kill Palestinian gunman in West Bank clash
  • A Ukrainian serviceman walks as seeds burn in a grain silos after it was shelled repeatedly, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Donetsk region, Ukraine May 31, 2022. REUTERS/Serhii Nuzhnenko
    NATO vows to modernise Ukraine's military to fight off Russian invasion
  • A man counts Indian currency notes inside a shop in Mumbai, India, August 13, 2018/ Reuters
    India hikes taxes on kitchenware, farm machinery
  • Andrew Formica, CEO and director of Jupiter Fund Management Plc. Photo: Collected
    CEO of $68 billion firm quits to ‘sit at the beach and do nothing’
  • The Group of Seven leaders gather for a lunch at the Schloss Elmau hotel in Elmau, Germany on 27 June 2022. Photo: Reuters
    G7 discussions with China, India on Russian oil price cap positive -source

Related News

  • Ukraine's 'unicorn' LGBTQ soldiers head for war
  • Florida set to strip Disney of self-governing status in dispute over LGBTQ law
  • Pixar employees claim Disney censors LGBTQ love in its films: 'Every moment of overtly gay affection is cut'
  • Israel to open surrogacy to same-sex couples as of next week
  • Marvel 'Eternals' banned in Gulf countries

Features

Mahathir accused financial titans of seeking to reverse decades of economic development that propelled tens of millions into the middle class. Photo: Bloomberg

George Soros, Mahathir and the legacy of 1997

14h | Panorama
 If Bangladesh produces and exports high-value-added MMF products right now, we can increase our total export by around 25% in value. Photo: Mumit M

Time ripe for Bangladesh RMG sector to focus more on man-made fibres

18h | Panorama
Human Library Bangladesh has organised so far nine sessions; eight have been held in different parts of Dhaka and one in Khulna. Photo: Courtesy

Human Library Bangladesh: Where the halls come alive with human voices

19h | Panorama
Abortion is a part of healthcare. Photo: Bloomberg

Abortion is healthcare and women’s rights are human rights

1d | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

Severodonetsk now under Russian control

Severodonetsk now under Russian control

7h | Videos
South African boy drove ambition, says Elon's father

South African boy drove ambition, says Elon's father

7h | Videos
Why Dollar crisis will last long?

Why Dollar crisis will last long?

7h | Videos
Beautiful mural at Padma bridge

Beautiful mural at Padma bridge

11h | Videos

Most Read

1
Padma Bridge from satellite. Photo: Screengrab
Bangladesh

Padma Bridge from satellite 

2
Meet the man behind 'Azke amar mon balo nei'
Splash

Meet the man behind 'Azke amar mon balo nei'

3
Photo: TBS
Bangladesh

Motorcycles banned on Padma Bridge 

4
Photo: Courtesy
Corporates

Gree AC being used in all parts of Padma Bridge project

5
Photo: Collected
Economy

Tech startup ShopUp bags $65m in Series B4 funding

6
World Bank to give Bangladesh $18b IDA loans in next five years
Economy

World Bank to give Bangladesh $18b IDA loans in next five years

EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2022
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab
BENEATH THE SURFACE
An aerial view of a MRT Line-6 construction site. Work on the first elevated metro rail of Bangladesh is going on in full swing. A total of 16 elevated stations will connect the capital’s Uttara to Motijheel via Mirpur, Farmgate and Dhaka University. The photo was taken from Farmgate area recently. Photo: Rajib Dhar

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net