Conversion therapy ban ‘may criminalise parents’

THE proposed ban on conversion therapy could criminalise Christian parents who want to stop their children seeking transgender treatment, a leading QC and Church of England minister have warned.

In a legal opinion sent to ministers, Philip Havers QC, a human rights lawyer, set out 11 scenarios, including Christians encouraging a teenager struggling with gender dysphoria that they should accept their body as it is and a vicar preaching a sermon on the Bible’s position on same-sex marriage.

He said any of the proposed definitions of conversion therapy “have the potential to criminalise at least some (and in several cases all) of these scenarios unless specific exemptions are applied for faith-based activity”. Ed Shaw, an evangelical pastor in Bristol, who procured the opinion, said a ban could “close down freedom of speech, conscience and religion”.

He added: “From the point of view of any Christian ministry, all this will do is create a climate of fear.”

The Government’s equalities office declined to comment on the opinion, but said: “We will take action to stamp out conversion therapy in this country.”