Scottish Greens push for new law on ‘conversion practices’

The Scottish Greens are claiming that Scotland urgently needs a new law banning so called ‘conversion practices’.

The party accused the SNP of outsourcing “the work to a UK Labour government that has sat on its hands” and urged immediate action.

In September, the Scottish Government, fearing a judicial review, shelved its controversial plans for a new ban in favour of “complementary approaches across the UK”.

Timeline

Green MSP Maggie Chapman called on the Scottish Government “to lay out a timeline and a plan” to ban conversion practices in Scotland.

In response, the Scottish Government said: “We are committed to ending conversion practices in Scotland”.

Its statement added: “We will prepare legislation for introduction to the Scottish Parliament should a UK‑wide approach not be achievable.”

Unachievable

Simon Calvert, Deputy Director of The Christian Institute and spokesman for the Let Us Pray campaign, which opposes new legislation, said: “The Scottish Government issued a 12 clause bill and an 86 page consultation document setting out its own plans for a legislative ban on conversion therapy and it crashed and burned.

“So they should know that UK-wide law is not, in fact, achievable. We just published a booklet detailing multiple failed attempts to legislate.

“All foundered because a ban is not necessary, because everyone is already legally protected from abuse, and not possible, because banning harmless speech about sex and sexuality is tyrannical.”

Conversation ban

Last year, First Minister John Swinney told Holyrood: “We think it is a pragmatic step to take to work with the United Kingdom Government to determine if there is a UK-wide approach to this which will enable us to avoid some of the difficulties we found ourselves in in relation to the gender recognition legislation.”

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 and has threatened both governments with legal action if they bring in a law that threatens the ordinary work of churches.

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 nearly 10,000 times.