The SNP government wants to introduce new laws which would make it illegal try and force an individual to suppress or change their sexual orientation and gender identity through any ‘conversion practices’. But critics claim the move could result in parents being imprisoned for up to seven years for refusing to let their child change gender.
The Catholic church argued that the plans could have ‘a chilling effect’ on free speech and highlighted that the ‘worrying lack of clarity’ about the term ‘conversion practices’ could ‘criminalise’ advice given to children ‘in good faith’.
Marion Calder, director of campaign group For Women Scotland, said: ‘We have grave concerns that these plans will criminalise loving parents, who could face years in jail simply for refusing to sign up to the gender ideology cult.’ Within the 86-page document, it attempts to define conversion practices as everything from physical abuse and practices such as forced marriage to cumulative, coercive behavior over a longer period of time.
Mrs Calder added: ‘If the SNP and Greens insist on pushing this through, it is likely to go the same way as the toxic self-ID and named person laws and be blocked in the courts.’ A consultation launched by the Scottish Government yesterday argues any legislation will not target ‘ethical guidance’.
The proposals add that ‘general statements of belief or opinion’ will not fall within the scope of the law and instead it will focus on the intent to cause harm to a person and the actual causing of harm through a conversion practice. But a spokesman for the Catholic church said: ‘The worrying lack of clarity about what is meant by the term “conversion practices” could create a chilling effect and may criminalise advice or opinion given in good faith.’
The Christian Institute, which fought and won a legal battle against the Scottish Government over its contentious ‘named person’ legislation in 2016, believe it limits free speech. Deputy director Simon Calvert fears the legislation will criminalise conversations and opinions, arguing that existing laws already provide protection from verbal and physical abuse.
Mr Calvert said the group will be encouraging Christians to respond to the consultation. He said: ‘We are particularly worried about the Government’s plans for ‘civil protection orders’. Gay and trans people are already protected, quite rightly, from verbal and physical abuse by existing law.
The organisation claims the proposed laws are ‘based purely on activists’ speculation’ about what might be said in private. They claim their legal team will be examining the proposals and will be ‘ready to go to court’ unless changes are made.
‘Since those things are already illegal, what is it that this Bill seeks to criminalise? The activists are quite clear that they want it to target conversations and opinions they don’t like.’ CARE for Scotland, a Christian policy group believes the plans go ‘overboad in their application’ and ‘undermine human rights’.
Scottish Equalities minister Emma Roddick said: ‘The consultation responses we receive will help us to further consider those measures we can take to stop the harm of conversion practices and protect those at risk while ensuring that freedoms, including freedoms of speech, religion, and belief, are safeguarded.’
Another court case would add to an already extensive list of legal battles, most recently unsuccessful attempts from the Scottish Government to overrule Westminister’s use of a Section 35 order to block the Gender Recognition Reform Bill and a 2022 Supreme Court bid to win the right to hold an independence referendum.
