The Church of Scotland have voiced their support for a ban on conversion therapy, a traumatic procedure designed to convince people with non-heterosexual tendencies that what they’re doing is wrong.

Campaigners have welcomed the ‘landmark’ support from the Church, a decision which was reached after a vote at the Church of Scotland General Assembly last week.

The General Assembly is the Church of Scotland’s highest governing body and sets church law. The Assembly voted to “urge the Scottish Government to ban Conversion Therapy” and to encourage their Faith Forum “to make representations to the Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament”.

The Scottish Government has promised to bring forward a ban on conversion therapy and has established an Expert Advisory Group to explore the details of the ban. It is expected that the group will deliver a report with recommendations in the autumn with a Bill to come in 2023.

End Conversion Therapy Scotland spokesperson, Sophie Duncan, said: “This is a milestone on the road to banning Conversion therapy in Scotland.

“We welcome the Church of Scotland’s landmark vote to support the campaign to ban Conversion Practices in Scotland. This decision strengthens the overwhelming moral and ethical consensus that these practices have no place in Scotland’s society or in religious life.

“No-one should be told that they have to choose between their faith and their identity, nor should they be forced to suppress their sexuality and gender identity in the name of religion. Where only one in three LGBT+ Christians feel safe to be themselves in church and in their faith life, we applaud the efforts of the Church of Scotland to stand up for LGBT+ Christians and people of faith in Scotland.”