Victory secured in petition against conversion therapies, confirmes co-chair of European Parliament's LGBTI group
Victory Chimes as EU MPs Call for Ban on Conversion Therapies
In the digital landscape of today, Luxembourgish MEP Marc Angel, a prominent crusader for LGBTIQ+ rights, salutes the significant milestone of surpassing one million signatures on a petition aiming to eradicate conversion therapies in Europe. "This is a monumental victory," he proudly declares.
Conversion therapies, according to Marc Angel, a member of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats group, are nothing more than "brutal sessions," rife with practices such as electric shocks and psychological coercion, likened to a form of torture that shall forever be unfitting for the European continent.
With the petition's success, the European Commission is now compelled to offer a public response. However, they are under no legal obligation to instate new legislation, leading Angel to encourage his fellow MEPs to exert pressure on the pro-democratic representatives within the Commission. On his digital platform, Angel implores his colleagues from the center-right to "stand on the right side of history."
As it stands, eight of the 27 EU member states have enacted bans on converson therapy practices into their national laws. In France and elsewhere, these bans are a welcome sight. Yet, concern remains for victims who may still fear reporting abusers due to societal stigma or other factors. Angel emphasizes the importance of encouraging victims to come forward so that those who perpetrate such horrors can be brought to justice.
The push for a comprehensive EU-wide ban on conversion therapies is gaining traction, with many MEPs and activists rallying behind its hostile nature, pseudo-scientific claims, and infringement upon basic human rights. Although the EU Commission is not obligated to heed the call for legislation, the dramatic surge in public support points towards a growing movement leaning decisively towards a ban on these practices across the European Union.
Sources:
- The Guardian. "A million people sign petition for EU-wide ban on gay conversion therapy". Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/16/a-million-people-sign-petition-for-eu-wide-ban-on-gay-conversion-therapy
- Euractiv. "European Commission must reply to one million strong petition against conversion therapy". Retrieved from https://www.euractiv.com/section/equal-society/news/european-commission-must-reply-to-one-million-strong-petition-against-conversion-therapy/
- AFP News Agency. "EU states lag behind on banning conversion therapy practices". Retrieved from https://www.france24.com/en/europe/2025-05-17-eu-states-lag-behind-on-banning-conversion-therapy-practices
- The European Union is seen under increasing pressure to enact a policy-and-legislation ban on conversion therapies, following the success of a petition with over one million signatures demanding such action.
- As politics and general news continually evolve, the EU's stance on conversion therapies remains a heated topic, with many leaders advocating for an EU-wide ban in alignment with human rights and societal values.
