The government now says it will ban so-called conversion therapy for gay or bisexual people in England and Wales – but not for transgender people. It comes hours after it had said it would drop plans for the ban entirely. The announcement on Thursday evening that ministers would explore non-legislative routes to stop the practice was criticised by LGBT groups and MPs. According to NHS England, conversion therapy tries to change someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity. NHS England and other major psychological bodies in the UK have warned all forms of conversion therapy are “unethical and potentially harmful”.