Ban on conversion therapy threatens core free speech rights, says Conservative peer
A TORY peer has warned the Government that a ban on conversion therapy would “threaten core free speech rights”.
Lord Frost said no law was needed to ban the practice of attempting to change a person’s sexuality or preferred gender, because coercion was already illegal. Kemi Badenoch, the equalities minister, is committed to introducing a ban on conversion therapy, although the plans have been repeatedly delayed over fears it could criminalise parents who question their child’s wish to change gender.
A Liberal Democrat peer has brought forward her own legislation, which the House of Lords will discuss today.
Speaking in advance of the debate, Lord Frost told The Telegraph: “There’s no evidence of a problem with conversion therapy in this country. That’s not surprising. Offences of physical and sexual violence, however motivated, against LGBT people or anyone else, are already illegal. Coercion is illegal.
“The Public Order Act already makes it illegal to use ‘threatening or abusive words’ likely to cause ‘harassment, alarm or distress’, anywhere apart from a private house – a provision which is already extremely expansive. Going any further, as this Bill would, will threaten core free speech rights, already extremely vulnerable in this country, without doing anything to affect the supposed conversion therapy problem – because that problem doesn’t really exist in the first place,” he added.
Mrs Badenoch has repeatedly delayed the introduction of a draft Bill to ban conversion therapy, over fears it could criminalise parents, teachers and doctors. A minister this week said it would be published “in due course”, likely months, meaning it may not come before the election.
Baroness Burt of Solihull, a Liberal Democrat peer, will bring forward the
Conversion Therapy Prohibition (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity) Bill today.
She told The Mirror: “For five years, the Conservatives have broken their promise to deliver a ban on conversion therapy - so it’s time for us Liberal Democrats to bring progress forward.
“Sexuality or gender identity is not a problem to be ‘cured’. It’s who we are, and it’s deeply disturbing that these practices still happen in our own country today. I have been working with parliamentarians from all parties to get this through the House of Lords. It’s important to me to do everything in our power to finally deliver the change the LGBT+ community deserves.”
The Bill defines “conversion therapy” as any practice which has the “intended purpose” of attempting to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. Last week, Sir Keir Starmer confirmed Labour would ban conversion therapy for gay and trans people.
A government spokesman said: “No one in this country should be harmed or harassed for who they are and attempts at so-called ‘conversion therapy’ are abhorrent. That is why we are carefully considering this complex issue.
“We intend to put our draft Bill forward for pre-legislative scrutiny as a further safeguard against unintended consequences.”