European Parliament Votes To Ban Conversion Therapy

The European Parliament has voted in favour of an EU-wide ban on conversion therapy practices, marking a significant step forward for LGBTQ+ rights across Europe.

The vote follows a European Citizens’ Initiative launched in January 2024 by ACT LGBT, which gathered more than 1.2 million signatures calling for a ban on such practices.

Conversion therapy refers to practices aimed at changing or suppressing a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity, and has long been condemned by medical organisations and human rights groups.

The outcome of the vote is being seen as a strong political signal to the European Commission, which is the only EU institution that can formally propose binding legislation for all member states.

“The European Commission must now propose binding legislation covering all forms of these practices for both children and adults in all EU countries by 18 May 2026,” ACT LGBT said.

Advocacy organisations described the vote as an important milestone in strengthening protections for LGBTQ+ people across Europe.

“Today is a big victory for the LGBTI+ community in Europe,” ACT LGBT added, expressing hope that the decision will lead to concrete legislation in the near future.

#MaltaDaily