A clear majority of the public say so-called gay ‘conversion therapy’ should be banned, according to a poll shared exclusively with ITV News.
The findings come as campaigners call on the government to announce a ban next week, after two years of delays.
62% of those surveyed by YouGov, on behalf of the Ozanne Foundation, which campaigns to end conversion therapy, said that they support a ban.
Only 14% said they do not, with the rest saying that they do not know. Those with a religious affiliation were only slightly less likely to want a ban, with 57% in favour, versus 15% who are not.
ITV News understands the Equalities Minister, Liz Truss, is still finalising plans for a ban, which have yet to be signed off by the cabinet.
But Parliament breaks for its summer holiday next Wednesday, so there are concerns that a ban could be delayed beyond then.
This week, ITV News spoke to ‘Tom’ (not his real name), who spent three years in group therapy sessions, trying to turn himself straight.
He told us: “There’s a secrecy around it. You’re encouraged not to tell anyone you’re part of it.
“They would ask you to talk about how often you have been tempted to think in a ‘gay’ way.
“There were a lot of questions about family, upbringing and childhood experiences. We were made to feel that we would all achieve what we were looking for, which was to eventually marry a woman and have a family.”
Instead, Tom says he was left feeling suicidal.
“There were definitely times that I felt I didn’t really want to go on. There were times where I felt there was no real hope,” he said.
Eventually he quit the group and has now embraced his sexuality.
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