from Psephizo
Mark Bratton writes: The long-awaited draft Bill on conversion practices (‘the draft’), recently released for pre-legislative parliamentary review, is fundamentally flawed. According to the Preamble, the draft aims, among other goals, to establish new offences related to abusive conversion practices on individuals. However, rather than preventing abuse, the draft risks reinforcing harmful conversion practices, particularly the manipulation of many children away from accepting their same-sex orientation towards a vague ‘transgender identity’ and endorsing irreversible and damaging medical interventions—such as drugs and surgeries—that fall under the so-called ‘gender-affirming care’ (GAM).
This draft legislation is poorly written, excessively broad in scope, and introduces new legal classifications that conflict with established principles in related legal fields. It risks encouraging vexatious litigation initiated by ideologically driven activists targeting individuals and public organisations that express obvious truths about sex and the best interests of gender-confused children facing developmental challenges linked to their natural growth. Additionally, it may suppress the speech and language used by parents, teachers, and youth workers who are trying to support children through their difficulties. The legislation also significantly undermines parental rights, potentially violating human rights law, particularly the right to private and family life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
As outlined in the Explanatory Notes accompanying the draft, the proposed gender conversion Bill upholds the current Labour government’s manifesto pledge to implement a trans-inclusive ban on conversion practices, ostensibly aiming to address legal gaps related to such practices. However, this proposal is moot for two reasons.
Read also: The devil is in the detail by Tim Wyatt, The Critical Friend