Conservative MP Miriam Cates has raised concerns that a ban on conversion therapies targeting gay or transgender individuals could result in the wrongful prosecution of parents. The UK government, led by Rishi Sunak, is reportedly considering introducing legislation to ban conversion therapy during the King’s Speech on November 7, although this has not been confirmed. Last week, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) urged the government to implement a ban on conversion therapy. However, Cates argued in an article for The Telegraph that such a ban could have “dreadful unintended consequences,” citing examples from Canada and Australia where parents can be prosecuted for seeking help for their children experiencing distress about their gender identity.
The Conservative Party is said to be divided on the issue of conversion therapy, with conflicting stances in the past. Former Prime Minister Theresa May pledged to end the practice in 2018, but Boris Johnson replaced her and reconsidered the ban, excluding therapies targeting transgender individuals. In January 2023, Sunak’s government announced plans for a “trans-inclusive” ban. Cates questioned the necessity of new legislation, as existing laws already prohibit abusive and harmful practices. She argued that ministers have not provided a single example of an additional conversion practice they wish to outlaw.
Cates emphasized the need to protect children from radical gender ideology, referencing the Tavistock clinic scandal. She warned that a Conversion Practices Bill could have a chilling effect on free speech and harm voters, particularly with a general election approaching. Campaigners have long called for a ban on conversion therapy, arguing that it targets and harms LGBT individuals. The chair of the EHRC, Baroness Kishwer Falkner, expressed the commission’s belief that legislation to ban harmful conversion practices is necessary, but emphasized the importance of careful consideration to avoid unintended consequences.
In a letter to Women and Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch, Baroness Falkner stated that she hopes to see the legislation included in the upcoming King’s Speech. The shadow women and equalities secretary, Anneliese Dodds, also pledged that a Labour government would introduce a comprehensive ban on all conversion therapies without loopholes. The issue remains complex and sensitive, with the potential for wide-ranging impacts, and any legislation must be carefully drafted, using clear terminology and definitions, and based on evidence.