Scottish Parties commit to repeat of Gender Bill debacle

The SNP has today announced in its manifesto that: “Should the UK government fail to bring forward legislation to ban conversion practices, we are committed to legislating against the harms of conversion practices and will introduce legislation within the first year of the new parliament to permanently end these practices.”

Scottish Labour has promised to: “Work to deliver a conversion practices ban on a four nation basis to prevent the creation of any possible loopholes across the UK and protect LGBT+ people from harmful conversion practices.”

While the Scottish Greens say they will: “Introduce a comprehensive ban on conversion therapy covering all settings, such as religious, informal, community, family-based and therapeutic, with clear protections for affirming healthcare, and inclusive of trans, non-binary, and asexual identities.”

The Scottish Conservatives and Reform UK Scotland have published their manifestos; the Scottish Lib Dems have yet to publish theirs.

When the Scottish Government published its proposals for a conversion therapy law in January 2024, it sparked a storm of criticism. Headlines warned that parents could face seven years in prison for dissuading their children from gender treatment, while lawyers, women’s groups, parents and church leaders condemned the plans as compelling adherence to a single ideological viewpoint. Much of the criticism centred on how broadly the Bill was drafted, since merely refusing to affirm a person’s LGBTQ+ identity in prayer or private conversation would have fallen foul of the Government’s proposed definition.

Amid rumours of a revolt from its own benches, and warnings that it could face yet another judicial review, the Scottish Government announced in September 2024 that it was shelving its own plans and handing responsibility for a Bill to Westminster. However, south of the border, legislation has been repeatedly delayed due to concerns that it could infringe on parental rights and religious freedom.

Leading KC Aidan O’Neill – who represented For Women Scotland in its legal victory against the Scottish Government – condemned the proposals as “fundamentally illiberal in intent and effect”. He confirmed they “would have the undoubted effect of criminalising much mainstream pastoral work of churches, mosques and synagogues and temples”, and warned that parents would face criminalisation for helping their children feel comfortable in their bodies instead of seeking lifelong medicalisation.

Let Us Pray spokeswoman Joanna Timm said:

“Gay and trans people are already protected from abusive and coercive practices under Scots law.

“Campaigners are clear that they want a ban to compel parents and clinicians to medically transition gender-confused young people, and to criminalise Christians for expressing traditional views on sexuality and gender.

“It’s astonishing that several of the major parties are backing a Bill that could see ordinary people jailed for refusing to yield to the demands of the LGBTQ+ lobby. It’s as if nothing has been learned from the Gender Recognition Reform Bill debacle.

“Voters want a Parliament that will prioritise the real issues facing Scotland, not one that is more concerned with pursuing ideology-driven legislation to appease activist groups like Stonewall and LGBT Youth Scotland.”