EU Parliament Votes To Ban Harmful ‘Conversion Therapy’

The European Parliament has voted in favor of banning so-called conversion therapy across the European Union.

The proposed ban had the support of 405 members of European Parliament.

European Association Against Conversion Therapy (ACT) began its campaign in support of the ban through the EU’s European Citizens Initiative framework in 2024. More than 1.2 million people signed it.

European Parliament backs EU-wide ban on conversion therapy.

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— Rainbow News (@rainbownews.bsky.social) April 30, 2026 at 1:27 AM

Today’s action calls on the European Commission “to propose a comprehensive and legally binding EU‑wide ban covering both children and adults, prohibiting the conduct and advertising of such practices, ensuring effective penalties, and providing full protection and support for survivors, including intersex persons.”

In its official press release, the European Economic and Social Committee wrote, “Conversion practices (aimed at changing, suppressing or erasing a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity or expression) still exist in parts of Europe, despite being widely condemned as harmful, akin to hate crimes and incompatible with fundamental rights.”

The European Commission is expected to formally respond by May 18.

At this writing 7 member countries of the European Union — Belgium, Cyprus, France, Malta, Norway, Portugal, and Spain — have banned conversion therapy outright.

German lawmakers passed a law in 2020 that prohibits conversion therapy for minors and for adults who have not consented to undergoing the widely discredited practice. And in 2022, Greece banned the harmful practice for minors.

Here’s a link to the full press release from the EU.