Conversion practices ban is an ‘anti-Christian campaign’
by Carys Moseley, Christian Concern:
Public Policy Researcher Carys Moseley critiques a tabled amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill which seeks to ban ‘conversion practices’.
Conservative MP Alicia Kearns has tabled an amendment to the government’s Criminal Justice Bill to ban conversion practices (Amendment NC42).
This is due to be debated at the Report Stage, which starts next Wednesday 15 May.
How the amendment defines conversion practices
The amendment appears to be a revised and slightly reworked version of Lloyd Russell-Moyle’s private members’ bill.
The amendment defines ‘conversion practices’ thus:
“For the purposes of this section, “conversion practices” means any conduct or activities carried out with the premeditated intent to change, replace, or negate an individual’s actual or perceived sexual orientation or transgender identity (or lack thereof).”
This definition is similar but not identical to the one given previously:
“conversion practice” means a course of conduct or activity, the predetermined purpose and intent of which is to change someone’s sexual orientation or to change a person to or from being transgender, including to suppress a sexual orientation or transgender identity so that the orientation or identity no longer exists in full or in part.”
Alicia Kearns has added ‘perceived sexual orientation or transgender identity (or lack thereof). This places greater weight on the supposed perception of the person deemed to enact a ‘conversion practice’. What this means is that the police would be given greater scope for investigating the thoughts of those reported to them for conversion practices.
The amendment restricts expression of religion and belief
The amendment addresses the expression of religious and non-religious beliefs:
Read also: Church leaders urge PM to denounce ‘conversion practices’ plans that criminalise Christians from The Christian Institute
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