Huge petition urges EU to act against conversion therapy

Led by Association ACT (Against Conversion Therapy), a major petition has triggered the European Citizens' Initiative mechanism of the EU - making this call to ban conversion practices only the 13th European Citizens’ Initiative to be validated in the history of the EU's direct democracy tool.

Over 1.2 million signatures for the petition were collected over a 12-month period beginning in May 2024. The campaign was supported by over 300 LGBTQI+ and human rights organisations.

As a result, the European Commission is legally bound to formally reply to the petition's call for legislation. The deadline for this is 18 May 2026. 

On 12 December, representatives of Association ACT met with Hadja Lahbib - European Commissioner for Equality - to present the petition and reiterate the call for action against conversion practices.

“What we are fighting against is practices of torture that do not have their place in our European Union...” said Mattéo Garguilo of ACT. "We want a comprehensive and complete ban of conversion “therapy” in all EU countries. All identities of the LGBTI+ community must be protected from these practices”. 

According to data presented by Assocation ACT, 24% of EU LGBTQI+ citizens have been victims of conversion practices. Trans people are significantly more vulnerable than other members of the queer community.

The data also indicates that around 50% of victims of conversion practices have subsequently experienced suicidal thoughts - this rises to 80% for trans people.

“The European citizens have spoken, they want the European commission to eradicate conversion “therapy” in the EU..." said Caleb Stocco of ACT. “Banning conversion “therapy” is not a political choice, it’s a rational one. No one can be in favour of torturing people”. 

 The ball is now in the court of Commissioner Lahbib who is tasked with leading the European Commission's formal reply to the petition.

What is conversion therapy?

Conversion therapy is the pseudoscientific practice of trying to change an individual’s sexual orientation from homosexual or bisexual to heterosexual using psychological, physical, or spiritual interventions.

Historically, the techniques used in conversion therapy have been horrific – lobotomies, chemical castration, electro-shock aversion treatment.

Today, organisations offering conversion therapy are generally suggesting counselling, visualisation, social skills training, psychoanalytic therapy, and spiritual interventions such as prayer and group support.

There isn’t any form of conversion therapy that can change someone’s sexuality. It’s based on the false premise that a sexuality that is not heterosexual is somehow deficient or abnormal.

Which countries have banned conversion therapy?

It's difficult to get a clear reading on the total number of countries that have banned conversion therapy as it's difficult to compare different legal systems and some countries have partial ban, or may have bans in place at the state level.

The Equaldex resource platform currently puts the number at 25 countries that have banned conversion therapy.

These are:

• Taiwan
• Vietnam
• Israel
• Albania
• Belgium
• Cyprus
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Iceland
• Malta
• Norway
• Portugal
• Spain
• Canada
• Mexico
• New Zealand
• Samoa
• Argentina
• Brazil
• Chile
• Ecuador
• Paraguya
• Peru
• Uruguay

What's happening with conversion therapy in the UK?

Successive governments in the UK have made commitments to implementing a ban on conversion therapy, but the required legislation has not yet been introduced.

The current Labor government has said that it supports a ban on conversion therapy and it has the voting majority required in order to implement the ban. However, the ban has not yet been implemented.