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Criminalising prayer and parenting?

Publication

Conversion therapy update

  • April 2022

Public concern about plans to ban ‘conversion therapy’ has increased considerably in recent months. Much of the opposition stems from the serious lack of clarity about what is to be outlawed.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson decided to drop the ban, only to do a partial U-turn when his plans were leaked. Westminster now intends the ban to cover only sexual orientation, not transgenderism. But MPs and Peers who want trans included will try to amend the legislation. And Government ministers in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales all want trans to be covered.

Conversion therapy is a deliberately broad term chosen by LGBT activists. There may be quack therapists – and sadly, even some church leaders – who exploit people and use abusive practices. Of course, verbal and physical abuse is illegal already. But activists want a ban to reach into churches and use the criminal law to force Christians to endorse LGBT theology.

References

References

  1. 1 ‘Support the Church Ministers’ response to the Consultation on Banning ‘Conversion Therapy’, Ministers’ Consultation Response, see https://ministersconsultationresponse.com/ as at 14 April 2022
  2. 2 Jayne Ozanne tweet, 14 February 2022, see https://twitter.com/JayneOzanne/status/1493142121796096001 as at 14 April 2022; Lancaster Guardian online, 14 March 2022, see https://www.lancasterguardian.co.uk/news/people/church-leaders-in-lancaster-and-morecambe-among-those-to-sign-government-letter-opposing-conversion-therapy-ban-3591160 as at 14 April 2022
  3. 3 The Christian Institute and others (Appellants) v The Lord Advocate (Respondent) (Scotland) [2016] UKSC 51, para. 73
  4. 4 Report on Petition PE1817: End Conversion Therapy, Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee, Session 6, SP Paper 88, 25 January 2022
  5. 5 Scottish Parliament, Official Report, 15 March 2022, cols 45 and 39
  6. 6 ‘Government forced to extend public consultation on conversion therapy after Fair Play For Women threatens legal action’, Fair Play For Women, 9 December 2021, see https://fairplayforwomen.com/government-forced-to-extend-public-consultation-on-conversion-therapy-after-fair-play-for-women-threatens-legal-action/ as at 14 April 2022
  7. 7 Ibid
  8. 8 Banning Conversion Therapy consultation, Government Equalities Office, 29 October 2021
  9. 9 ‘Press pause on conversion therapy law’, Sex Matters, 14 November 2021, see https://sex-matters.org/posts/sex/press-pause-on-conversion-therapy-law/ as at 14 April 2022
  10. 10 The Guardian, 9 June 2021, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/09/conversion-practices-church-of-england-bishop-backs-prosecution as at 14 April 2022
  11. 11 Premier Christianity, 1 December 2021, see https://www.premierchristianity.com/interviews/jayne-ozanne-the-christian-campaigner-explains-why-she-wants-to-ban-hate-prayer/5807.article as at 14 April 2022
  12. 12 Jayne Ozanne tweet, 12 December 2021, see https://twitter.com/JayneOzanne/status/1469968961659981829 as at 14 April 2022
  13. 13 Oral Evidence: Petition: Conversion Therapy, Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee (Scotland), 2 November 2021, col. 6
  14. 14 The Cooper Report, Ban ‘Conversion Therapy’ Legal Forum, October 2021
  15. 15 ‘Should conversion therapy be outlawed in the UK?’, GB News YouTube channel, 30 October 2021, see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fM3lifbdlk as at 14 April 2022
  16. 16 Government Equalities Office Consultation: Banning Conversion Therapy: Response from LGBT Humanists, January 2022
  17. 17 Human Rights Implications Of Proposals To Ban “Conversion Therapy”, Jason Coppel QC, April 2021 (available at https://christian.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Christian%20Institute%20Conversion%20Therapy%20Advice%20-%20updated.pdf as at 14 April 2022)
  18. 18 Oral Evidence: The Government’s consultation on conversion therapy: Women and Equalities Committee, HC878f
  19. 19 Stonewall Scotland, LGBT sector submission to call for views on conversion therapy petition, August 2021, see https://www.stonewallscotland.org.uk/sites/default/files/lgbt_sector_submission_to_call_for_views_on_conversion_therapy_petition.pdf as at 14 April 2022
  20. 20 Change or Suppression (Conversion) Practices Prohibition Act 2021, Section 5
  21. 21 Change or Suppression (Conversion) Practices Prohibition Act 2021, Part 2; Maximum Penalties, Sentencing Advisory Council, see https://www.sentencingcouncil.vic.gov.au/about-sentencing/maximum-penalties as at 14 April 2022
  22. 22 ‘Victoria’s Conversion Practices Act is a genuine assault on religious freedom’, Murray Campbell blog, 30 September 2021, see https://murraycampbell.net/2021/09/30/victorias-conversion-practices-act-is-a-genuine-assault-on-religious-freedom/ as at 14 April 2022
  23. 23 ‘Have you experienced a change or suppression practice?’, Victoria Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission, see https://www.humanrights.vic.gov.au/change-or-suppression-practices/have-you-experienced-a-change-or-suppression-practice/ as at 14 April 2022
  24. 24 ‘Conversion therapy to be illegal in Canada in 30 days’, CTV News, 8 December 2021, see https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/conversion-therapy-to-be-illegal-in-canada-in-30-days-1.5699251 as at 14 April 2022
  25. 25 ‘Conversion therapy ban receives royal assent, now law in Canada’, Global News, 8 December 2021, see https://globalnews.ca/news/8434497/conversion-therapy-ban-canada-royal-assent/ as at 14 April 2022
  26. 26 Bill C-4, 8 December 2021 (Canada)
  27. 27 ‘Conversion Therapy Ban’: Statement by The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, Apostolic Church of Pentecost of Canada, 7 December 2021, see https://acop.ca/docs/conversion-therapy-ban-2/ as at 14 April 2022