Lush and Galop call on MPs to ban ‘conversion therapy’ – with no exemptions

Have a heart this Valentine’s Day; Lush campaigns with Galop to call on MPs to show love for the LGBT+ community by introducing a ‘conversion therapy’ ban – with no exemptions.

• Lush and Galop’s campaign calls on the UK Government to pass legislation that bans so-called ‘conversion therapy’ and to ensure that legislation is fully protecting all victims in the UK, with no loopholes.
• For Valentine’s Day Lush customers are invited to ask MPs to ‘have a heart’ and ban ‘conversion therapy’ by signing a Valentines card in-stores and sending an e-card to their MP
• A report by Galop, with research undertaken by YouGov, found nearly 1 in 5 (18%) of LGBT+ people in the UK have been subjected to someone trying to change, ‘cure’ or suppress their sexual orientation or gender identity.
• Lush will release a limited edition heart-shaped ‘washcard’ to raise money to support Galop’s helpline for those who have experienced so-called ‘conversion therapy’.

Over Valentine’s Day, Lush is working with Galop, the UK’s leading LGBT+ anti-abuse charity, to call on MPs to introduce comprehensive legislation to fully protect LGBT+ people from so-called ‘conversion therapy’, with no exemptions. 

The government first promised a ban on ‘conversion therapy’ back in 2018, but successive governments have failed to bring this legislation before parliament. Lush and Galop are calling on the public to help them end this abusive practice, once and for all.  Rishi Sunak’s government has said they will table a legislative ban on ‘conversion therapy’, with the aim of passing it before the next general election. While this announcement is to be welcomed, it is important to ensure the legislation does not fall short of a full ban. It must cover protection for trans people, people over the age of 18, and people who are said to have ‘consented’ to conversion practices – as you cannot consent to abuse. 

From the 10th to the 16th of February, Lush stores across the UK will feature windows bringing attention to the urgent need to protect people from the practice which attempts to change or suppress someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity. Customers can scan a QR code to send a Valentine’s E-card to their MP to have a heart and ban ‘conversion therapy’. As well as this, customers will be invited to sign a large Valentine’s Day card in stores which will then be sent to MPs after the campaign. 

During this time customers can buy a limited edition heart-shaped ‘washcard’ for their loved ones with the words “Proud to love you” online at lush.com and in UK stores. All of the money from the sales of this product (minus the VAT) will be donated to Galop to contribute to their support services for LGBT+ people experiencing so-called ‘conversion therapy’ and other forms of abuse. 

What is ‘conversion therapy’?

To support the campaign Lush and Galop created a short animation which highlights the impact that this practice has on LGBT+ individuals and demonstrates the various forms it can take.

So-called ‘conversion therapy’, or conversion practices, mean any group of actions which try to change or suppress someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity. This may be committed by family members, community members or groups, religious leaders or organisations, health workers, counsellors/ therapists, or other practitioners within the ‘well-being sector’. No one should try to ‘cure’, ‘convert’ or ‘punish’ someone because of who they are. This can be seriously damaging and is a form of abuse. 

Shockingly, these practices are still legal in the UK, and Galop’s research with YouGov has found that almost 1 in 5 LGBT+ people in the UK have been subjected to conversion practices. Additionally, between April 2021 and December 2022, Galop’s LGBT+ Young People’s Advocacy Service recorded that 24% of current service users were currently experiencing, or had previously experienced, conversion practices. 
For anyone who has experienced conversion practices, Galop runs a helpline where people can get the support and understanding they need. Galop’s services are available by phone at 0800 999 5428, by email at help@galop.org.uk, or via their online chat service at galop.org.uk

“This campaign truly comes from the heart of Lush. With many of our staff identifying as LGBT+*, bringing an end to so-called ‘conversion therapy’ is a cause we are passionate about.

Working with the LGBT+ anti-abuse charity Galop gave us the perfect opportunity to bring this issue to the public’s attention and call on the government to have a heart and enact vital legislation to protect LGBT+ people across the UK from abuse.” – Jonnie Hatfield, Lush PR & LGBTQIA+ Community Network Member

“We’re incredibly grateful to Lush and to everyone supporting this campaign to finally get so-called ‘conversion therapy’ banned in this country. 

Five years ago, the UK Government promised to ban conversion practices. With each day that passes, more of our community are being left at risk. We know that 1 in 5 LGBT+ people in the UK experience someone trying to change, ‘cure’ or suppress their identity, so we need the whole community to be protected from this abuse.

Galop has been working with victims and survivors of conversion practices for many years, and we know effects of this abuse can be lifelong. It’s time that all LGBT+ people are protected, with no one left behind.

Galop’s National Conversion Therapy Helpline is available for anyone personally affected by conversion practices, as well as anyone worried about someone in their life.” – Leni Morris, Galop CEO

Proud to Love You Washcard £3.00 / each

Paper made from apple pulp, perfectly scented and designed to give you a rich lather and beautifully perfumed skin. Stencilled with the words ‘Proud To Love You’; this washcard shares a beautiful affirmation to be freely yourself. It also has a punchy fragrance to get your attention, making it the perfect addition to any Valentine’s Day card.

Notes to Editors

About Galop

Galop is the UK’s LGBT+ anti-abuse charity. We work with and for LGBT+ victims and survivors of interpersonal abuse and violence. Galop works directly with thousands of LGBT+ people who have experienced abuse and violence every year. We specialise in supporting victims and survivors of domestic abuse, sexual violence, hate crime, and other forms of abuse including honour-based abuse, forced marriage, and so-called conversion therapies. We are a service run by LGBT+ people, for LGBT+ people, and the needs of our community are at the centre of what we do. 

For press enquiries, please email press@galop.org.uk. 

About Lush

Lush invent, manufacture and retails fresh handmade cosmetics.  A beauty company with a campaigning heart, Lush is passionate about direct action using its stores around the world as a platform to shed light on little-known social and environmental issues.

*According to Lush’s June 2022 internal demographic survey, over 35% of global colleagues who participated identified their sexuality as either lesbian, gay, bisexual, asexual or pansexual, and over 10% of global colleagues who participated identified their gender as either transgender, non-binary or agender 

Lush Press Office contact details: lushpr@lush.co.uk  / 020 7434 3948