Westminster Govt to publish draft conversion therapy Bill

Let Us Pray is expecting a draft Bill on ‘conversion practices’ to be published by the Westminster Government in the next few weeks.

The legislation “will neither inadvertently criminalise nor have a ‘chilling’ effect” on those having “challenging” conversations with young people about gender, Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch MP has promised.

But previous assurances have done little to assuage fears that the ordinary work of churches will be affected, with LGBT activists clamouring to have biblical sexual ethics outlawed.

Bill to face scrutiny

Following the publication of the draft Bill, there will be 12 weeks of pre-legislative scrutiny. This will be carried out by a Joint Committee of MPs and Peers, who will be tasked with studying the wording in detail.

The draft Bill must be published soon if the Government is to hit its target of completing the process this parliamentary session.

An important part of this scrutiny is a ‘call for evidence’. This will be a key opportunity for you to raise concerns about the proposed ban.

Please ensure you are signed up to the Let Us Pray campaign to be kept up-to-date and receive any news. We will email out a handy guide when the call for evidence begins, so that you can respond as easily as possible. Many clear and thoughtful responses will help politicians understand what is at stake.

Some conversations to be protected

According to the Mail on Sunday, Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch said that the ban will not prevent parents, religious leaders, teachers or health professionals from having “exploratory or even challenging conversations” with young people about ‘gender identity’.

This is a restatement of assurances she made at the start of the year. In a letter sent to MPs in January, she was clear that pre-legislative scrutiny would help ensure “faith leaders, parents, teachers or counsellors continue to be able to have exploratory conversations with people about their sexual orientation, sex or gender identity”. You can read our response to that letter here.

While these reassurances by the Equalities Minister are welcome, it is important that lawmakers follow through on them. Proposals put forward a year and a half ago fell far short of reassuring us that Christian freedoms would be protected.

Some MPs have previously promised to amend forthcoming legislation if it doesn’t meet their expectations. And there will be intense pressure from Stonewall and other activist groups to have a broad law that captures the ordinary work of churches.