PARTY PLEDGES
Scottish Labour Party
Scottish Green Party
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Scottish National Party
Scottish Conservative Party
Highlighted parties have pledged to back our requests as part of their parliamentary campaign
Are you an MSP who wants to make sure your views are represented here?
Read our request and email us and we'll make sure your response is listed here.
Our email address is endconversiontherapyscotland@gmail.com.
Name | Party | Support | Region | Constituency | Statement |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alasdair Allan | Scottish National Party | Yes With Caveats | Highlands and Islands | Na H Eileanan An Iar | While I do not claim to know much about the subject of “conversion therapy”, I agree that the practices you describe are indeed dangerous and exploitative. People advertising that they can change people from being gay to heterosexual, are at the very least, guilty of misinformation and are likely to cause a great deal of human misery. While, as far as I know, there is no legislation being proposed around this issue, or even how such legislation might be framed. However, I will be aware of the valid points you make about this issue - which I am very sympathetic to - should it come before the next parliament. |
Alex Cole-Hamilton | Scottish Liberal Democrats | Yes | Lothian | Edinburgh Western | I am fully supportive of this- conversion therapy causes a great deal of harm and I fully back legislation to stop it. It goes against liberal values of equality. |
Alex Rowley | Scottish Labour Party | No Reply | Mid Scotland and Fife | none | |
Alexander Burnett | Scottish Conservative Party | No Reply | North East Scotland | Aberdeenshire West | none |
Alexander Stewart | Scottish Conservative Party | No Reply | Mid Scotland and Fife | none | |
Alison Johnstone | Scottish Green Party | Yes | Lothian | I wholeheartedly support the campaign to end the inhumane and damaging practice of conversion therapy. | |
Anas Sarwar | Scottish Labour Party | Yes | Glasgow | You have my full support in your campaign. This is an important campaign and I am more than happy to support it. | |
Angela Constance | Scottish National Party | No Reply | Lothian | Almond Valley | none |
Angus Robertson | Scottish National Party | Yes | Lothian | Edinburgh Central | Best wishes to the campaign to end conversion therapy. I am pleased there is such strong cross-party support and hope it will lead to legislative change |
Annabelle Ewing | Scottish National Party | Yes | Mid Scotland and Fife | Cowdenbeath | |
Annie Wells | Scottish Conservative Party | No Reply | Glasgow | none | |
Ariane Burgess | Scottish Green Party | Yes | Highlands and Islands | ||
Ash Denham | Scottish National Party | No Reply | Lothian | Edinburgh Eastern | none |
Audrey Nicoll | Scottish National Party | Yes | North East Scotland | Aberdeen South and North Kincardine | |
Beatrice Wishart | Scottish Liberal Democrats | Yes | Highlands and Islands | Shetland | The Scottish Liberal Democrats rightfully voted to overwhelmingly oppose the practice of Conversion Therapy for LGBT+ youth at the party’s conference in 2014. I am more than willing to reaffirm our commitment to bring about an end to this harmful practice and offer my full support to this campaign. |
Ben Macpherson | Scottish National Party | Yes | Lothian | Edinburgh Northern and Leith | You have my full support. There is absolutely no place for so-called conversion therapy in Scotland. Such practices are discriminatory, and harmful to the mental health and wellbeing of LGBTI people. |
Bill Kidd | Scottish National Party | No Reply | Glasgow | Glasgow Anniesland | none |
Bob Doris | Scottish National Party | Yes | Glasgow | Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn | We should seek to legislate with existing powers. If they are insufficient that will become apparent. I was given reassurances from campaign that is not the case. Unequivocal support. |
Brian Whittle | Scottish Conservative Party | No Reply | South Scotland | none | |
Carol Mochan | Scottish Labour Party | No Reply | South Scotland | none | |
Christina McKelvie | Scottish National Party | Yes | Central Scotland | Hamilton Larkhall and Stonehouse | I support this campaign in my capacity as an MSP and Candidate. |
Christine Grahame | Scottish National Party | No Reply | South Scotland | Midlothian South Tweedale and Lauderdale | none |
Claire Baker | Scottish Labour Party | No Reply | Mid Scotland and Fife | none | |
Clare Adamson | Scottish National Party | Yes | Central Scotland | Motherwell and Wishaw | There is no place for conversion therapy in Scotland. Such practices are discriminatory and harmful to the mental health and wellbeing of the LGBT+ community. I am proud to back the End Conversion Therapy campaign. |
Clare Haughey | Scottish National Party | No Reply | Glasgow | Rutherglen | none |
Colin Beattie | Scottish National Party | Yes | Lothian | Midlothian North and Musselburgh | |
Colin Smyth | Scottish Labour Party | No Reply | South Scotland | none | |
Collette Stevenson | Scottish National Party | Yes With Caveats | Central Scotland | East Kilbride | There is no place for conversion therapy in Scotland. Such practices are discriminatory and harmful to the mental health and wellbeing of LGBTI people. The UK Government made a commitment to ban conversion therapy in their LGBT Action Plan, and we fully support this, as much of what is needed to take forward an effective ban is reserved to Westminster. If the UK Government does not take forward such a ban, then we will do so within the limits of the Scottish Parliament’s powers. |
Craig Hoy | Scottish Conservative Party | No Reply | South Scotland | none | |
Daniel Johnson | Scottish Labour Party | Yes | Lothian | Edinburgh Southern | I absolutely support a ban on conversion therapy and should I be re-elected in May I will be sure to work alongside colleagues to support this bill as it makes its way through Parliament in whatever way I can. |
Dean Lockhart | Scottish Conservative Party | No Reply | Mid Scotland and Fife | none | |
Donald Cameron | Scottish Conservative Party | No Reply | Highlands and Islands | none | |
Douglas Lumsden | Scottish Conservative Party | No Reply | North East Scotland | none | |
Douglas Ross | Scottish Conservative Party | No Reply | Highlands and Islands | none | |
Edward Mountain | Scottish Conservative Party | No Reply | Highlands and Islands | none | |
Elena Whitham | Scottish National Party | Yes | South Scotland | Carrick Cumnock and Doon Valley | As a mum to an LGBTI+ young person I whole heartedly sign this pledge. |
Emma Harper | Scottish National Party | No Reply | South Scotland | none | |
Emma Roddick | Scottish National Party | Yes | Highlands and Islands | ||
Evelyn Tweed | Scottish National Party | No Reply | Mid Scotland and Fife | Stirling | none |
Fergus Ewing | Scottish National Party | No Reply | Highlands and Islands | Inverness and Nairn | none |
Finlay Carson | Scottish Conservative Party | No Reply | South Scotland | Galloway and West Dumfries | none |
Fiona Hyslop | Scottish National Party | No Reply | Lothian | Linlithgow | none |
Foysol Choudhury | Scottish Labour Party | No Reply | Lothian | none | |
Fulton MacGregor | Scottish National Party | Yes | Central Scotland | Coatbridge and Chryston | I commit to supporting the end of conversion therapy. This practice is discriminatory and harmful to LGBT people and absolutely must be stopped. |
George Adam | Scottish National Party | No Reply | West Scotland | Paisley | none |
Gillian Mackay | Scottish Green Party | Yes | Central Scotland | As lead candidate for the Scottish Greens for Central Scotland I'd like to register my support for the campaign. | |
Gillian Martin | Scottish National Party | Yes | North East Scotland | Aberdeenshire East | Happy to support your campaign to end conversion therapy. |
Gordon Macdonald | Scottish National Party | No Reply | Lothian | Edinburgh Pentlands | none |
Graeme Dey | Scottish National Party | No Reply | North East Scotland | Angus South | none |
Graham Simpson | Scottish Conservative Party | No Reply | Central Scotland | none | |
Humza Yousaf | Scottish National Party | No Reply | Glasgow | Glasgow Pollok | none |
Ivan McKee | Scottish National Party | No Reply | Glasgow | Glasgow Provan | none |
Jackie Baillie | Scottish Labour Party | No Reply | West Scotland | Dumbarton | none |
Jackie Dunbar | Scottish National Party | Yes | North East Scotland | Aberdeen Donside | I am happy to support your campaign to put an end to conversion therapy. |
Jackson Carlaw | Scottish Conservative Party | Yes | West Scotland | Eastwood | This is an abhorrent practice that has no place in Scotland or the UK. |
James Dornan | Scottish National Party | Yes | Glasgow | Glasgow Cathcart | I support the moves to end conversion therapy |
Jamie Greene | Scottish Conservative Party | Yes | West Scotland | ||
Jamie Halcro Johnston | Scottish Conservative Party | No Reply | Highlands and Islands | none | |
Jamie Hepburn | Scottish National Party | Yes | Central Scotland | Cumbernauld and Kilsyth | |
Jenni Minto | Scottish National Party | Yes | Highlands and Islands | Argyll and Bute | |
Jenny Gilruth | Scottish National Party | No Reply | Mid Scotland and Fife | Mid Fife and Glenrothes | none |
Jeremy Balfour | Scottish Conservative Party | No Reply | Lothian | none | |
Joe FitzPatrick | Scottish National Party | Yes | North East Scotland | Dundee City West | It's a bit of a shame on us all that we're in this day and age, with so much reforms and yet this kind of behaviour is still legal in Scotland. I think potentially this is an area where the [Equalities and Human Rights] Committee might want to consider whether this is appropriate for a Committee Bill. Might not get to the point of being a priority for any government in th efuture, and if that's the case then I think the Committee should look as to whether we can use the particular powers we have in the Scottish Parliament to take forward Committee legislation to basically put it beyond doubt that this kind of behaviour is not acceptable in Scotland. |
John Mason | Scottish National Party | No Reply | Glasgow | Glasgow Shettleston | none |
John Scott | Scottish Conservative Party | No Reply | South Scotland | Ayr | none |
Karen Adam | Scottish National Party | Yes | North East Scotland | Banffshire and Buchan Coast | I believe an end to conversation therapy is not only right but imperative. All the best, and may you be successful in your endeavours for the betterment of a welcoming, inclusive and overall kind Scotland. |
Kate Forbes | Scottish National Party | No Reply | Highlands and Islands | Skye Lochaber and Badenoch | none |
Katy Clark | Scottish Labour Party | Yes | West Scotland | ||
Kaukab Stewart | Scottish National Party | Yes | Glasgow | Glasgow Kelvin | I am happy to support your campaign to end conversion therapy in Scotland. |
Keith Brown | Scottish National Party | No Reply | Mid Scotland and Fife | Clackmannanshire and Dunblane | none |
Kenny Gibson | Scottish National Party | No Reply | West Scotland | Cunninghame North | none |
Kevin Stewart | Scottish National Party | Yes | North East Scotland | Aberdeen Central | I am happy to sign your pledge. |
Liam Kerr | Scottish Conservative Party | No Reply | North East Scotland | none | |
Liam McArthur | Scottish Liberal Democrats | Yes | Highlands and Islands | Orkney | This is an important campaign and one that Scottish Liberal Democrats strongly support. I wish you every success and look forward to helping play my part. |
Liz Smith | Scottish Conservative Party | No Reply | Mid Scotland and Fife | none | |
Lorna Slater | Scottish Green Party | Yes | Lothian | I'm absolutely willing to pledge to support legislation bringing an end to Conversion Therapy in Scotland if elected to the Scottish Parliament. | |
Maggie Chapman | Scottish Green Party | Yes | North East Scotland | As an intersectional feminist, I fully support the campaign to ban the abhorrent and inhuman practice of conversion 'therapy'. I will take every opportunity to oppose conversion 'therapy' whether elected or not. For me this is about fundamental rights: an individual should be able to express their gender identity and sexual orientation freely without the implied suggestion that they need to meet heteronormative demands to 'convert'. | |
Mairi Gougeon | Scottish National Party | No Reply | North East Scotland | Angus North and Mearns | none |
Maree Todd | Scottish National Party | Yes | Highlands and Islands | Caithness Sutherland and Ross | |
Marie McNair | Scottish National Party | No Reply | West Scotland | Clydebank and Milngavie | none |
Mark Griffin | Scottish Labour Party | Yes | Central Scotland | ||
Mark Ruskell | Scottish Green Party | Yes | Mid Scotland and Fife | We in the Scottish Greens have long called for banning of conversion therapy in Scotland, conversion therapy is harmful, immoral and wrong. We will continue to make that argument both in and out of the Scottish Parliament. | |
Martin Whitfield | Scottish Labour Party | Yes | South Scotland | ||
Maurice Golden | Scottish Conservative Party | No Reply | North East Scotland | none | |
Meghan Gallacher | Scottish Conservative Party | No Reply | Central Scotland | none | |
Mercedes Villalba | Scottish Labour Party | Yes | North East Scotland | I support the call to end the abusive practice of conversion therapy in Scotland and pledge to support legislation bringing an end to Conversion Therapy. | |
Michael Marra | Scottish Labour Party | No Reply | North East Scotland | none | |
Michael Matheson | Scottish National Party | No Reply | Central Scotland | Falkirk West | none |
Michelle Thomson | Scottish National Party | Yes | Central Scotland | Falkirk East | I would be happy to add my name to your register against conversion therapy. |
Miles Briggs | Scottish Conservative Party | Yes | Lothian | ||
Monica Lennon | Scottish Labour Party | Yes | Central Scotland | Conversion therapy is a form of psychological abuse that can have a lasting impact on LGBT+ people and I wholly support the work the End Conversion Therapy campaign is doing to put an end to this abusive practice. Your efforts to support LGBT+ young people and adults affected by conversion therapy is to be commended. I am fully behind your calls for a criminal ban in Scotland and I pledge to support any legislation to that effect. I agree with you that, as well as the provision of conversion therapy, any ban must also include causing a person to undergo conversion therapy; removing a minor from Scotland to undergo conversion therapy abroad; and advertising an offer to provide conversion therapy. As you have outlined, I believe it is important that we engage with religious leaders on the impact of certain teachings on their LGBT members. It is crucial that we also establish a public complaints mechanism for reports of conversion therapy and ensure there is support for survivors as well as awareness training for both the healthcare sector and religious organisations. One LGBT+ person being forced to undergo the trauma of conversion therapy is one too many. I want to assure you of my unwavering support for your campaign and I pledge that I will be your friend and ally in putting an end to this shocking practice. | |
Murdo Fraser | Scottish Conservative Party | No Reply | Mid Scotland and Fife | none | |
Màiri McAllan | Scottish National Party | Yes | South Scotland | Clydesdale | |
Natalie Don | Scottish National Party | Yes | West Scotland | Renfrewshire North and West | There is absolutely no place for conversion therapy in Scotland and no-one should be subject to this. I am happy to support this campaign to help to put an end to this horrific practice. |
Neil Bibby | Scottish Labour Party | No Reply | West Scotland | none | |
Neil Gray | Scottish National Party | Yes | Central Scotland | Airdrie and Shotts | I unequivocally support ending conversion therapy in Scotland and would support any legislation brought under Holyrood competency to do just that. |
Nicola Sturgeon | Scottish National Party | No Reply | Glasgow | Glasgow Southside | none |
Oliver Mundell | Scottish Conservative Party | No Reply | South Scotland | Dumfriesshire | none |
Pam Duncan-Glancy | Scottish Labour Party | Yes | Glasgow | You have my full support to ban conversion therapy in Scotland and whether I am elected in May or not, I will campaign with you to make that happen. | |
Pam Gosal | Scottish Conservative Party | No Reply | West Scotland | none | |
Patrick Harvie | Scottish Green Party | Yes | Glasgow | Attempts to use conversion therapy of any form against LGBT+ people stem from prejudice. But masquerading as a bogus therapy gives it a unique ability to do harm through breach of trust. It is inherently a form of abuse, not therapy, and it should be outlawed. | |
Paul McLennan | Scottish National Party | Yes | South Scotland | East Lothian | |
Paul O’Kane | Scottish Labour Party | Yes | West Scotland | I support the campaign to end conversion therapy in Scotland. If elected I will support legislation in the Scottish Parliament to ban the appalling and harmful practice which has no place in Scotland and indeed the world. If not elected, I will continue to support in any way I can both through my role as a Councillor in East Renfrewshire and more generally as an LGBT+ party activist. Thank you for your work on this so far. | |
Paul Sweeney | Scottish Labour Party | Yes | Glasgow | I am fully committed to your vital campaign to end the barbaric practice of conversion therapy, and I will gladly work to ensure its abolition in law if elected. | |
Pauline McNeill | Scottish Labour Party | Yes | Glasgow | ||
Rachael Hamilton | Scottish Conservative Party | No Reply | South Scotland | Ettrick Roxburgh and Berwickshire | none |
Rhoda Grant | Scottish Labour Party | No Reply | Highlands and Islands | none | |
Richard Leonard | Scottish Labour Party | No Reply | Central Scotland | none | |
Richard Lochhead | Scottish National Party | No Reply | Highlands and Islands | Moray | none |
Ross Greer | Scottish Green Party | Yes | West Scotland | 'Conversion therapy' is a benign way to describe abuse. I'm proud that the Scottish Greens manifesto includes an unequivocal commitment to ban it. If re-elected I would work to ensure we explore the quickest and most effective way to do this as soon as Parliament is reconvened. | |
Russell Findlay | Scottish Conservative Party | No Reply | West Scotland | none | |
Ruth Maguire | Scottish National Party | No Reply | West Scotland | Cunninghame South | none |
Sandesh Gulhane | Scottish Conservative Party | No Reply | Glasgow | none | |
Sarah Boyack | Scottish Labour Party | No Reply | Lothian | none | |
Sharon Dowey | Scottish Conservative Party | No Reply | South Scotland | none | |
Shirley-Anne Somerville | Scottish National Party | Yes | Mid Scotland and Fife | Dunfermline | |
Shona Robison | Scottish National Party | No Reply | North East Scotland | Dundee City East | none |
Siobhian Brown | Scottish National Party | Yes | South Scotland | Ayr | There is no place for conversion therapy in Scotland. Such practices are discriminatory and harmful to the mental health and wellbeing of LGBTI people. |
Stephanie Callaghan | Scottish National Party | No Reply | Central Scotland | Uddingston and Bellshill | none |
Stephen Kerr | Scottish Conservative Party | No Reply | Central Scotland | none | |
Susan Webber | Scottish Conservative Party | No Reply | Lothian | none | |
Tom Arthur | Scottish National Party | Yes | West Scotland | Renfrewshire South | |
Willie Coffey | Scottish National Party | Yes With Caveats | South Scotland | Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley | I would be happy to pledge my support to a full and comprehensive ban on Conversion Therapy. There is no place for Conversion Therapy in Scotland. Such practices are discriminatory and harmful to the mental health and wellbeing of the LGBTI people. The UK Government made a commitment to ban Conversion Therapy in their LGBT Action Plan, and I fully support this. Much of what is needed to take forward an effective ban is reserved to Westminster. If the UK Government does not take forward such a ban, then the Scottish Government will do so within the limits of the Scottish Parliament’s powers. |
Willie Rennie | Scottish Liberal Democrats | Yes | Mid Scotland and Fife | North East Fife | If we are serious about wanting Scotland to be the best country in the world for LGBT+ people, then that means using the powers of the Scottish government to challenge hatred and discrimination, no matter where it comes from. The End Conversion Therapy campaign have done valuable work keeping this on the political agenda by asking candidates in this May’s election to back their pledge. I would like to go one step further and commit that my party will back legislation for a ban on conversion therapy for LGBT+ people. This legislation would set in law sanctions for causing a person causing a person to undergo conversion therapy providing or advertising conversion therapy and importantly, removing a minor from Scotland to undergo conversion therapy abroad. I think that Scotland can be genuinely proud of the work that it has done to improve LGBT+ rights but there is plenty more to do. That’s why I’m proud to pledge my party’s support in ensuring this practice must be ended once and for all. |