Conversion therapy ban ‘could allow self-id’

Proposals to ban conversion therapy would allow self-id to be legalised through the back door, the Scottish Conservatives have said.

The Scottish Government is consulting on proposals to ban conversion therapy, which is defined as any act that seeks to alter or suppress a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. However, the Scottish Tories have said the party is worried any legislation could “criminalise” parents who question their child claiming they want to change their gender.

This could lead to self-id being introduced in Scotland, despite previous attempts to legalise this being blocked, the opposition party has claimed.

Speaking at the Scottish Conservative Party conference yesterday, Rachael Hamilton MSP said: “We will debate this a bit further, because I do believe that conversion therapy could be a conduit to backdoor reform for self-id.”

The party’s deputy leader Meghan Gallacher has previously said the party opposes the “abhorrent practice”.

This comes after a bill to make it easier for trans people to legally change their gender – lowering the age limit from 18 to 16, and removing the need for a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria – was blocked by the UK government.

At an event hosted by For Women Scotland, Ms Hamilton said she suffered from nightmares because of the backlash she received for publicly opposing gender reform.

She said: “During the conversation around gender recognition reform, we were accused of being transphobic and toxic. I actually have nightmares about it, but I don’t want to retrace those steps.”