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LGB Alliance response to draft Conversion Practices Bill. The old conversion therapy told gay people to change their sexuality. The new version tells them to change their bodies. As the UK's only charity dedicated exclusively to the rights and interests of lesbian, gay and bisexual people, it falls to us to ask - what will this Bill mean for young people who are simply gay or bisexual? We've read the legislation carefully. Our conclusion is that it risks making it harder for those young people to receive the time, conversations and exploratory support that have helped generations of same-sex attracted people understand and accept themselves. And, despite what the Government claims, it risks criminalising the very people society relies on to protect vulnerable young people - parents whose primary concern is keeping their children safe, whole and healthy, and therapists whose role is to help them explore difficult questions with care and compassion. Parents, therapists, teachers, clinicians and support groups should be able to help young people explore difficult questions without fear of fines or imprisonment. The abusive practices that concern us all are already prohibited by criminal law, safeguarding law, civil law and professional regulation. Where those protections have failed, the answer is to enforce them properly and to equip the parents, clinicians, therapists, teachers and safeguarding professionals - who are often the first to recognise when a young person needs help - to do their best. We do not need a new law that makes those same people afraid to do their job. We support strong action against genuinely abusive practices. We do not support legislation that risks replacing one form of pressure on gay people with another. We believe it's okay to be gay. We believe it's okay to talk. And we do not believe Parliament should pass a law that makes either of those things harder. Please contact your MP with your concerns and join us in campaigning in the months ahead.