Parents who attempt to prevent their children from undergoing gender transition treatments risk prosecution under a new Labour law that bans conversion therapy, according to concerns raised by lawmakers and campaigners. The legislation proposes a maximum prison sentence of five years for those convicted of trying to alter an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity.
Under the proposed law, individuals suspected of engaging in harmful practices may also be subject to Conversion Practice Protection Orders. These orders can be sought by local councils to safeguard individuals deemed to be at risk. While ministers have stated that the law will only target abusive acts causing "serious harm, alarm or distress," they have also indicated there will be no specific exemption for parents.
This has led to fears that the law could criminalize parents for discussing their children's desire to identify with a different gender or for opposing treatments such as puberty blockers and gender reassignment surgery. Concerns have also been raised about the potential impact on counselors and religious figures.
Opponents of the bill have noted that some of the practices cited by the government as examples of conversion practices, such as electroshock treatment and sexual assault, are already illegal. Mims Davies, Conservative women's spokesman, expressed worry that the "broadly drafted provisions could have a chilling effect on those acting in good faith." Conservative MP Rebecca Paul questioned whether parents withholding consent for a child to participate in a puberty blocker clinical trial could be construed as an abusive conversion practice under the new law.
The Bayswater Support Group, an organization supporting parents of transgender or non-binary children, stated that accusations of psychological or emotional abuse are common in discussions of transgender identity. They warned that if the bill is enacted, parents may fear that such accusations could escalate into threats of criminal offenses.
The draft bill, published on Thursday, is set to undergo scrutiny by Members of Parliament.