A Scottish Labour MP has urged the public to inform their local MP of the dangers of banning so-called conversion therapy.
Speaking at a Labour Party Conference fringe meeting organised by the Labour Women’s Declaration (LWD), Tracy Gilbert shared her concerns that the UK Government’s proposals could have troubling pitfalls if put into practice.
The Government is set to bring forward a draft Bill this parliamentary session, which will require public consultation and pre-legislative scrutiny. Labour’s manifesto pledged to introduce “a full trans-inclusive ban on conversion practices, while protecting the freedom for people to explore their sexual orientation and gender identity”.
’Careful scrutiny’
The LWD has previously warned MPs that there is the potential for the ban to be “misused by activists, as an attempt to limit discussions about how best to help gender-questioning people.”
They wrote that: “the introduction of a ban would undermine many of the recommendations in the Cass Review, which Labour has committed to implement in full”.
And stated: “This new bill will need very careful scrutiny in both houses plus extensive consultation and stakeholder engagement to ensure it is developmentally informed – allowing for normal identity exploration in children and adolescents – and does not inadvertently harm any of the people it aims to protect.”
Scotland
Last month, the Scottish Government announced that it will delay its controversial plans to outlaw ‘conversion practices’ in favour of “complementary approaches across the UK”.
The SNP recently held a consultation on its plans to outlaw ‘practices’ that seek to change, suppress or inhibit someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity. But First Minister John Swinney did not include it in his Programme for Government, in light of Westminster’s pledge to introduce a draft Bill this parliamentary session.
Instead, he announced that he would introduce the plans to Holyrood “should a UK-wide approach not be achievable”.
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