Conversion therapy update

by THE CHRISTIAN INSTITUTE

May 2021 

KEY DEVELOPMENTS 

The media has created a sense of crisis around conversion therapy and a ban is very likely. The Christian Institute supports protecting people from dangerous medical practices. But activists want prayer, pastoral conversations, preaching and even parenting to be caught. This is a fast-moving issue. This leaflet covers key developments since our previous briefing in November 2020.

Prayer and parenting to be caught by the ban 

The Government says a ban will cover trans issues. So could a parent urging their child not to seek damaging puberty blockers be breaking the law? Meanwhile a founder of the ‘Ban Conversion Therapy’ campaign says: “‘Spiritual guidance’ is really just religious speak for conversion therapy”[1] and “the pernicious power of prayer must be dealt with”.[2] But a ban on spiritual guidance and prayer would be tyrannical and unworkable. Police and the courts would have to decide which kinds of prayer are criminal and which are not. “ While some violent practices which may be classed as conversion therapy, such as ‘corrective rape’, are already covered by existing criminal offences, many religious practices, such as ‘group prayer’, are not.”

“While some violent practices which may be classed as conversion therapy, such as ‘corrective rape’, are already covered by existing criminal offences, many religious practices, such as ‘group prayer’, are not.”[3] 

—BBC News, 16 December 2020

QC SAYS BAN WOULD BREACH HUMAN RIGHTS 

A respected lawyer says a loosely phrased conversion therapy law would be “an unlawful interference” with human rights. Philip Havers QC said bans of the kind sought by activists could make it illegal for Christian parents to tell a child to remain in their birth sex, or for a vicar to preach against same-sex marriage. Havers’ legal opinion was commissioned by Ed Shaw, an evangelical minister who himself experiences same-sex attraction.[4]

ACTIVISTS CONDEMN RELIGIOUS FREEDOM CONCERNS 

Responding to Christians’ concerns, the Government has given limited assurances. Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch told MPs: “It is not the place of Government to dictate what is legitimate spiritual guidance, but … we will not tolerate the use of harmful coercive practices under the guise of spiritual support.”[5] 

The Prime Minister said: “I do not want to see clergy and church members criminalised for normal noncoercive activity”.[6] But Lib Dem Baroness Barker claimed the Government’s plans are far too weak and is pressing for something much stronger. She said: “Only people of faith who seek to abuse LGBT people have anything to fear from a complete ban.”[7] 

LGBT activist Jayne Ozanne accused the Government of “appeasing evangelicals”. Elsewhere she claimed: “Imposing mandatory celibacy on LGBT people & calling them ‘same-sex attracted’ causes significant harm” and demanded “prayer that focuses on ensuring someone conforms to a ‘norm’” “must be banned, and perpetrators must face the full force of the law”.[8]

INCLUDING TRANS IS RISK TO YOUNG PEOPLE 

The Government says its ban will cover transgender identity.[9] This could make it unlawful for a parent to try to dissuade their troubled son or daughter from taking irreversible ‘sex change’ drugs. Urging them to live as their biological sex could be criminalised. Young people will be put at risk of life-changing medical transition they may later regret. 

Parents who complain against a school for confusing their child by teaching gender ideology could also fall foul of this law.

AUSTRALIAN STATE OUTLAWS BIBLICAL PRAYER 

Pastoral advice and prayer that uphold biblical teaching on sexual ethics have been criminalised in the Australian state of Victoria. Any practice that seeks to change or suppress “sexual orientation or gender identity” is outlawed – including “prayer based practice”. Offenders face up to ten years in prison and a maximum fine of over £100,000. 

The state Attorney General said church ministers will be re-educated by the state to prevent them breaking the law.[10] British Conservative MP Alicia Kearns says: “The model that’s been passed in Victoria is a good one”.[11]

References

1. Gay Times online, 17 March 2021, see https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/originals/ban-conversion-therapy-co-founder-whats-more-threatening-than-telling-someone-they-will-spend-an-eternity-in-hell/ as at 29 April 2021
2. The Independent online, 20 February 2021, see https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/lgbt-conversion-therapy-ban-mental-health-b1805080.html as at 29 April 2021
3. BBC News online, 16 December 2020, see https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-55263392 as at 29 April 2021
4. The Daily Telegraph, 10 April 2021
5. House of Commons, Hansard, 8 March 2021, col. 49WH
6. Premier Christian News, 12 April 2021, see https://premierchristian.news/en/news/article/i-do-not-want-to-see-clergy-and-church-members-criminalised-boris-johnson-offers-assurances-over-conversation-therapy-ban as at 29 April 2021
7. Thomson Reuters Foundation News, 14 April 2021, see https://news.trust.org/item/20210414155540-j6cy8/ as at 29 April 2021
8. Thomson Reuters Foundation News, 15 April 2021, see https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-lgbt-politics-trfn-idUSKBN2C201A as at 29 April 2021; Jayne Ozanne tweet, 19 April 2021, see https://twitter.com/JayneOzanne/status/1384270402252283904 as at 29 April 2021; Pink News, 13 April 2021, see https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/04/13/boris-johnson-conversion-therapy-ban-churches-evangelical-alliance-letter/ as at 29 April 2021
9. House of Lords Written Answers, 9 April 2021, HL14619
10. Change or Suppression (Conversion) Practices Prohibition Act 2021, The Parliament of Victoria; Parliament of Victoria Hansard, 4 February 2021, page 282
11. Alicia Kearns MP speaking on BBC Radio 4, Faith, Lies and Conversion Therapy, 9 March 2021