Labour MP: ‘Gender-critical groups behind conversion practices’

An MP has made the extraordinary claim that people who believe in biological reality surrounding sex and gender are responsible for so called ‘conversion practices’.

Rachel Taylor MP made the unsubstantiated remark during a wide-ranging evidence session at a meeting of the Women and Equalities Committee.

The Westminster Government has promised to publish its draft conversion practices Bill for England and Wales soon. The Christian Institute has warned that the plans could impact family life and gospel freedom.

‘Organised’

Addressing Equalities Minister Anneliese Dodds, who is set to take responsibility for a new law, Taylor said she thought there had been “a rise in those sorts of practices taking place, being organised particularly by gender-critical groups”.

She added: “Have you seen a difficulty in those practices being purported to sort of help with people questioning sexuality, but really being conversion practices to prevent people exploring their gender?”

In response, Dodds said the Government believed “exploration is actually very important for a lot of people, but when we see abuse, that is not acceptable.

“So that’s what we’re focussed on now, and of course this is critical when it comes to ensuring that health care practitioners can carry out their work, as well as – as I mentioned before – for example, religious leaders, carers, parents, and so forth.”

Potential impact

In January, over 600 people tuned in to a webinar co-hosted by the Institute and church network Affinity which looked at the potential impact of the proposed conversion therapy Bill on prayer, pastoral conversations and parental guidance. The recording has already been viewed more than 8,000 times.

Last year, a group of doctors, psychiatrists, politicians and other professionals warned the Prime Minister that the proposals could also create a “slippery slope towards criminalising parents”.

In a letter to Sir Keir Starmer, the 140 signatories highlighted that under similar legislation in the Australian state of Victoria, parents may be committing conversion therapy if they object to their child taking puberty blockers or cross-sex hormones.

They stated: “In truth, the real ‘conversion’ taking place is that of children who are being led to believe, in schools and elsewhere, that it is possible to be born in the wrong body. We believe that your focus should be squarely on tackling that.”