Barclays Settles Controversial Account Closure Over Alleged 'Conversion Therapy' Promotion

Barclays Bank has agreed to pay over £20,000 in compensation after closing the account of Core Issues Trust (CIT), a Christian ministry that provides counseling to adults seeking to change their sexual identity. The bank suspended CIT's account in 2020 due to allegations of supporting "conversion therapy." CIT claims that Barclays succumbed to pressure from activists. Other companies, including Mailchimp, PayPal, Facebook, and Instagram, also took action against CIT. CIT's CEO received death threats and hateful messages. Barclays offered a settlement but did not reopen the accounts. The issue of conversion therapy remains contentious in the UK, with LGBT organizations calling for its ban.