Peer: ‘So-called conversion therapy is already banned’

A member of the House of Lords has said that a new law on so-called conversion therapy is “seeking to fix a problem that doesn’t exist”.

There are currently two Private Members’ Bills being considered by Parliament, one in the House of Lords, and one in the Commons, but Lord Jackson, a Conservative MP from 2005 to 2017, believes new legislation is unnecessary.

In an article for The Parliament Politics magazine, the Peer said that genuinely abusive practices which activists claim are taking place are already illegal, and so to continue to push for legislation is simply “wasting parliamentary time”.

No explanation

He wrote: “We’ve all been concerned by claims that gay men and women experienced electro-shock treatment from quacks who thought they could make a person heterosexual. Even worse, we were told about the horrific practice of ‘corrective rape'”.

There is no point wasting parliamentary time criminalising something that is already criminal.

But Lord Jackson noted that those pushing for a ban have admitted that rape is an illegal act, observing: “No-one has yet explained exactly what abusive actions are currently legal, that those promoting the bill want to make illegal.

“There is no point wasting parliamentary time criminalising something that is already criminal. We should just ensure existing laws are properly applied. Rape, ‘gay cure’ electro-shock therapy and other violent, abusive or psychologically harmful attacks are already banned.”

Criminalising parents

The Peer then questioned what it is that his activist colleagues are trying to ban, positing: “The answer I’m afraid is rather chilling. It seems that they want to stop the expression of certain opinions.

“If a parent wants to dissuade their adult child from having horrific and irreversible ‘sex change’ surgery, these are the kind of conversations that many activists regard as ‘conversion therapy’.

“Gender critical feminists who believe in biological sex and want to encourage confused young women to embrace biological reality are in the firing line. As are church leaders who uphold traditional beliefs about sex and sexuality in their conversations and prayers with gay and trans congregants.

“That’s right, all the above examples could fall within the scope of the proposed legislation, either because the bills have been so terribly drafted, or, more worryingly, by design.”

Prayer ban

Lord Jackson also highlighted comments made by former Government advisor on LGBT issues Jayne Ozanne, who said “gentle non-coercive prayer” should be banned, and said the UK should follow Victoria, Australia in introducing a draconian ban.

There is no justification for passing legislation that seeks to fix a problem that simply doesn’t exist, especially not when it savages freedom of religion and freedom of speech.

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The reality of the law in Victoria, Australia

• 7 Nov 2023

Those calling for a broad conversion therapy law have consistently called for governments across the UK to follow the example of Victoria, Australia.

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He pointed out that according to advice in Victoria, church leaders would be acting illegally if they tell people that “their gender identity is not real”, if they say prayers that “ask for a person to not act on their attractions” or “talk about a person’s brokenness or need to repent”.

The Peer said: “So, when the Lord’s Prayer asks God to ‘forgive us our sins’, it defies the guidance that you cannot pray about someone’s need to repent. ‘Lead us not into temptation’ defies the guidance that you cannot pray for a person to not act on their attractions.”

He concluded: “Yes, there have been abuses but these are already illegal and, thankfully, consigned to the history books. There is no justification for passing legislation that seeks to fix a problem that simply doesn’t exist, especially not when it savages freedom of religion and freedom of speech.”