Young men were forced to sit through slideshows strapped with electrodes, receiving vicious shocks if they dwelled on images of men. Lesbians were “cured” of their urges via “corrective” rape. Aged 17, the US writer Andrew Solomon saw a female “sex surrogate” to learn heterosexual ways. Christians, Muslims, Sikhs and Jews have suffered disturbing exorcisms to “pray away the gay”.
Two things are widely agreed about conversion therapy. First, it doesn’t work. Sexuality is essentially hardwired: for centuries gay people have braved violence, family rejection, even death, to love the person they desire. Second, it is an abhorrent practice with no place in a civilised society. The Church of England, NHS and many professional counselling bodies have called for a ban.
Theresa May promised this
