by Mike Judge, Evangelical Times (Image: Unsplash)
For months, indeed for years, Christians and others concerned about freedom of speech have warned that the government’s proposed ban on so-called conversion practices could criminalise ordinary conversations, parental responsibilities and the everyday ministry of churches.
Those warnings have too often been dismissed as scaremongering. Now, however, some of Britain’s leading newspapers are beginning to recognise the danger. Today, there are headlines in The Times, the Telegraph and the Daily Mail.
The Times has woken up to the implications, with its headline: ‘Draft gender law “may criminalise children”’. Its report highlights concerns that the legislation could expose even primary-school children to criminal prosecution for questioning a classmate’s desire to change gender.
Baroness Falkner, former chairwoman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, warns that the proposals could have a chilling effect on ordinary conversations, with children potentially being prevented from expressing perfectly reasonable questions or concerns.
Similarly, the Telegraph has published an article under the headline: ‘Children “face criminalisation” under gender conversion ban’. Again, the warning comes from Baroness Falkner, who argues that children could find themselves at risk of prosecution simply for asking questions about gender identity.
The report in the Telegraph draws attention to the absence of an age restriction in the draft legislation and the extraordinary possibility that children could be caught up in its provisions.
Read also: New Bill: Prison for taking your son to Church or saying he’s a boy? from Coalition for Marriage