‘Fully trans-inclusive’ bill set to be revealed

A draft “fully trans-inclusive” conversion therapy bill is to be published, the Minister for Women and Equalities Bridget Phillipson has announced, though no timescale has as yet been suggested.

But the Christian Institute (CI) says government should “ditch its plan” and instead “focus on enforcing existing legislation” and helping victims of genuine abuse to “access justice under the existing legal framework”.

Its comments come in a new report, Proving Tricky, which analyses how similar proposed legislation has run into difficulties in other jurisdictions, including Sweden, the Netherlands, Australia – and Scotland, where attempts to introduce a ban ended up with the Scottish Government handing responsibility to Westminster.

The CI concluded: “Around the world, legislators have been finding that creating a ‘conversion therapy’ law is not as easy as people think. At the heart of the struggle has been the question of definition.

“Activists demand that any law covers prayer, pastoral conversations and parenting. Reconciling their demands with human-rights law and identifying any gap in the law have proved elusive.”

The government faces a choice, the CI added: “Continue with a project that even many ‘progressive’ governments are beginning to see is a dead end; or consider seriously how individuals reporting genuine abuse can be better protected under existing law.”

CI deputy director Simon Calvert commented: “The previous government’s own internal assessment stated that the evidence base for a new law is ‘weak’ and that ‘there is already legislation to address acts which inflict physical harm’. So, why does the government persist?

“Why does it want to try to bring forward a controversial and complex law that will do little to help genuine victims of abuse, but will criminalise innocent medical professionals, parents and church leaders?”