Kemi Badenoch vows ‘conversion therapy’ legislation won’t criminalise therapy discussions
By Glen Owen and Sanchez Manning, Mail online:
The conversion therapy ban will not affect parents, teachers, religious leaders or health professionals having ‘exploratory or even challenging conversations’ with young people about gender, the Mail On Sunday has been told.
Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch has vowed that the long-awaited legislation, expected to be published as early as next week, will neither inadvertently criminalise nor have a ‘chilling’ effect on such therapy or discussions.
Ms Badenoch’s assurances come after the Government announced in January that it would legislate to ban conversion therapy relating to gender identity as well as sexuality.
This pledge came after Boris Johnson’s government signalled the year before that it was dropping plans to include transgender people in the bill due the ‘complexities’ involved in this area.
Conversion therapy is defined as attempts to change or supress someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
LGBT lobby groups such as Stonewall have vociferously campaigned for gender identity as well as sexuality to be covered in the planned ban, arguing that transgender people are one of the highest risk groups of conversion practices in the UK.
But psychologists and other medical practitioners have warned that if this happens it risks criminalising anyone who conducts exploratory therapy with young people confused about their gender.
They argue that the legislation would leave these therapists open to accusations of trying to convert patients by questioning their desire to change gender and have a ‘chilling’ effect on their approach.
Parent groups and church leaders have also expressed fears they too could fall foul of this proposed law if they dare challenge the idea that a child is transgender.
Last night those who opposed the inclusion of ‘gender identity’ in the conversion therapy ban welcomed Ms Badenoch’s commitment to protect the right to explore why an individual may want to transition.
Bob Withers, of ‘Thoughtful Therapists’, a group of psychotherapists who have been vocal critics of the mooted bill, said: ‘I am certainly pleased to hear Ms Badenoch’s promises, although of course we have to see the detail of the bill.
‘The scandal of the Tavistock shows what can go sadly wrong if parents, teachers and religious leaders are not allowed to explore with a gender questioning young person or even an older person what the possible origins of their discomfort might be.
‘There is a real danger that those people will end up having medical treatment they come to regret which is irreversible.
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