Opposition rising to Conversion Therapy Ban

Opposition is mounting in response to the Government’s Conversion Therapy Ban, following Bridget Phillipson’s article championing the draft Bill this week.

On Sunday, Phillipson, who is Minister for Women and Equalities, wrote for ‘The Independent’, “Conversion practices are fuelled by the vile lie that being LGBT+ is something to be fixed…No compassionate person believes another human being deserves to be treated this way – this government certainly doesn’t.”

The Bill, which if passed unamended, would equally apply to attempts to ‘change’ someone’s transgender identity or their sexuality, has attracted much criticism for concerns around criminalising regular conversations, such as between parents and children, and for its potential impact upon religious groups. Its current text leaves “emotional pressure” open to being prosecuted.

Phillipson sought to assuage these concerns in her article: “I know how important it is to protect people’s right to freedom of expression, religious practice and decisions on how to parent. This draft bill will not impinge on those rights.”

However, a number of public figures and groups expressed their dismay in response to the article. The Independent MP for Canterbury, Rosie Duffield, who represented the Labour Party until 2024, responded to Phillipson on X, tweeting, “This is a woeful, unnecessary, dangerous and ultimately homophobic Bill. You and @andyburnham need to listen to the many clinical and legal experts who've spoken out and scrap it.”

The ex-Guardian journalist Sonia Sodha, who wrote for ‘The Times’ warning about the dangers of the Bill a couple of weeks ago, said: “A gender-critical parent who doesn't believe in the concept of gender identity who, say, refuses to buy their child a binder or puberty blockers (abusive economic pressure) and is perceived to have caused their child serious alarm or distress could find themselves being reported to and investigated by the police…In terms of chilling effects, just threats to get police involved could seriously interfere with rights to free expression and family life.” Sodha also cited a thread from the Gay Men’s Network, who registered their own concern about the Bill.

Several religious groups also voiced their dismay, including the Christian Institute, Affinity and Greater Love Declaration. The Deputy Director of the Christian Institute, Simon Calvert, commented: “This draft legislation is one of the most troubling attempts at censorship we’ve seen. Parents should not be treated as criminals for expressing concern when their child wants to make permanent changes to their body, especially when such changes can cause long-term physical and psychological harm.”

Similar Bills have been proposed by multiple governments in recent years, beginning with Theresa May’s in 2018, only for them to fail to pass.