Elton John, Dua Lipa and Olly Alexander among artists to sign letter calling for ‘conversion therapy’ ban

Letter says that until the controversial practise is banned, ‘torture will continue to take place on British soil’

Clockwise from top: Elton John, Olly Alexander, Sam Fender and Dua Lipa have signed a letter calling on the government to ban ‘conversion therapy’ (Getty)

Elton John, Years & Years frontman Olly Alexander and Dua Lipa are among the artists to sign an open letter calling for a government ban on so-called conversion therapy.

The controversial practise is based on the false notion that being LGBT+ is a mental illness that can or should be cured.

The Trevor Project describes “conversion therapy” as aiming to “[change] an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity”.

“Conversion therapists use a variety of shaming, emotionally traumatic or physically painful stimuli to make their victims associate those stimuli with their LGBTQ identities,” the organisation says.

The International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims classifies “conversion therapy” as torture.

The letter reads: “Let’s finish what was pledged two years ago and ban ‘conversion therapy’ for all lesbian, gay, bi, trans, and gender diverse people, of all ages.

“Until you do, torture will continue to take place on British soil.”

The letter is addressed to Liz Truss, the minister for women and equalities. It urges her to “introduce a truly effective ban on ‘conversion therapy’”, Sky News reports.

“Any form of counselling or persuading someone to change their sexual orientation or behaviour so as to conform with a heteronormative lifestyle, or their gender identity should be illegal, no matter the reason, religious or otherwise – whatever the person’s age,” the letter says.

Other celebrities to sign the letter include Little Mix’s Jade Thirwall, Sam Fender, Stephen Fry and Russell T Davies.

This week, Facebook and Instagram banned all adverts promoting “conversion therapy”.