Queen Elizabeth II delivered her first major remarks since the funeral of her husband Prince Philip on Tuesday, opening the new session of Parliament and outlining the UK government’s legislative agenda, including plans to ban LGBTQ conversion therapy.
Known as the Queen’s Speech, the address was heard by a reduced audience due to Covid safety precautions.
“Measures will be brought forward to address racial and ethnic disparities and ban conversion therapy,” Queen Elizabeth II announced at the House of Lords in London.
The ceremonial speech to open Britain’s new parliamentary session is delivered by the reigning monarch, but the the content of the remarks are typically crafted by the Prime Minister and taken to reflect the new governing body’s priorities. So while the Queen herself holds little to no actual power in seeing a national conversion therapy ban through to fruition, Prime Minister Boris Johnson will hopefully put his money where his mouth is, so to speak.
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The medically debunked practice of conversion therapy sets out to change people’s sexuality and/or gender identity. The practice is often closely tied to religion and has been shown to be ineffective and incredibly damaging to those subjected to it.
Johnson has previously come out against the practice. While serving as London’s mayor, he stated that it has “no place in civilized society” and banned ads for it on the city’s subways.
As Prime Minister, Johnson has had difficulty enacting a ban. Notably, his equalities advisor Jayne Ozanne and two other members of the government’s LGBT advisory panel resigned, in part because of the glacial pace towards enacting a ban.
Today Ozanne told ITV News: “Whilst I warmly welcome the news that there is finally to be a ban, I am concerned that we are going to have yet more consultation.
“The government simply need to protect the lives of all LGBT people by doing what the UN has advised and banning all forms of conversion therapy, including religious practices.
“They have consulted long enough, now it is time to act and bring forward legislation that protects everyone from this inhumane and degrading abuse.”
In the U.S., President Joe Biden promised a national ban on the practice on minors during his campaign. The LGBTQ policy section of his website states:
“Hundreds of thousands of LGBTQ+ individuals have been subjected to so-called “conversion therapy” during their lifetime, which Biden knows is deeply harmful, highly unscientific, and often leads to trauma. The Obama-Biden Administration supported legislative efforts to ban ‘conversion therapy’ against minors, but today this practice is only fully banned for minors in 19 states. As President, Biden will work to enact the Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act.”
Fahd
Wow – the Queen in matching hat at the opening of Parliament – the crown was on the seat next to her. Talk about a pared down ceremony on account of the corona virus.
The Washington Post story on this “proposed” conversion therapy ban added the following: “Before such a ban is passed, the BBC reported the public will be consulted on how best to address the problem, to take into account religious freedoms and to protect legitimate “therapy.”
Sounds like a Tory (Republican) style political maneuver – endorse the ban, but create a process that prolongs consideration of the ban indefinitely.
I knew there couldn’t be a positive news item about Boris Johnson.
D_Bro
Hate to break it to you, but Her Majesty hasn’t worn the crown to the opening of Parliament in years. It became too heavy for her as she aged. It has nothing to do with COVID.
waldorf
Comparing the Tories to the Republicans is like comparing the Democrats to Socialists. Boris is a centre-right politician and let’s not forget it was the Tories who brought in sane-sex marriage.
Fahd
Was it the Tories or was it the coalition government with the Liberal Democrats? Boris Johnson is a soulless, opportunistic Trump-wannabe who’s well on his way to turning the UK into Little England and the breakaway republics. And that’s without mentioning his hair or Nigel Farage. Calling Johnson”center-right” is laughable and an insult to the center. But I respect your right to your opinion.
Annaronimo
Boris is for more right than entre right. Starmer is centre left. The ‘centre’ has been shifting rightwards for years now and it’s important we be aware of that. It’s why the world is so right wing these days.
Boris is only in this for himself. He started the Brexit issue back when he was a journalist ans has manipulated public opinion all the way to Number 10.
The Tories have shifted increasingly right for years as they are more interested in keeping their tax shelters than about serving the people. It’s convenient that Brexit happened around the time EU Law Legislation began writing policy to close taxation loopholes.
Georgeiv2
Boris is not a Conservative believe me He is our own version of Trump ,a lying grifter, I never thought I would see the day that a Prime Minister would be living in No 10 with his mistress whilst declaring has hasn’t enough money to support his multiple children by various women ! Don’t believe what he say believe what he does as to Our Queen God bless her I wonder if she is aware of what conversion therapy is but Well done Ma’am .America please take note !
Cam
Except you’re lying.
To get the bill passed, Cameron had to work with the Lib Dem and Labor Parties.
127 Tories voted for Same Sex Marriage and 136 voted AGAINST it. So no, the majority of tories were against it and it passed because the Lib Dems and Labor joined to pass it 400-175.
wooly101
She’s still going strong.
arnieca
Queerty: why is my comment from 4 days ago waiting for Moderator’s approval? i was simply expressing my support for bans on conversion therapy, a sentiment shared by most if not all Queerty readers.
‘that is very disappointing to hear. The religious freedom (to oppress) carveout means the community most likely to force conversion therapy on their children will be free to continue doing so. And the phrase ‘protect legitimate therapy’ is very dubious. There is no blurred lines between legitimate therapy and quackversion therapy.’
Jimmy
HAIL TO THAT QUEEN!