Parents who refuse to allow their children to change gender would face up to seven years in jail under SNP plans to ban ‘conversion therapy’. The Telegraph has more.
Proposals published on Tuesday state that actions designed to “change or suppress” another individual’s gender identity, causing them physical or psychological harm, would become illegal under the radical law.
SNP ministers acknowledged that so-called conversion practices often took place in a “family setting”, raising the prospect that parents could be criminalised if they refuse to go along with their child’s declaration that they are transgender.
Stopping someone from “dressing in a way that reflects their sexual orientation or gender identity” was put forward as an example of an action that would become illegal, even if a parent believed they were acting in a child’s best interests.
A consultation states that alongside new criminal sanctions, preemptive civil orders could be obtained against parents or religious leaders, even where conversion practices had not yet taken place.
The plans are the latest controversial measure put forward by the SNP. Critics argue the proposals would have a devastating impact on freedom of speech, privacy and family life in Scotland. …
Providers of services aimed at suppressing or changing a person’s sexual orientation or gender would be targeted, with taking someone out of Scotland to access “conversion” services also to become illegal.
A consultation stated that parents or religious leaders would not be criminalised for “expressing concerns”, “advising a child against medical interventions” or “not actively supporting” a child’s decision to dress as a member of the opposite sex.
However, it stated that when actions became “coercive” or “controlling” then the law would apply, even in cases where they were motivated by “a desire to help or protect the person”.
Those accused of conversion therapy would have a legal defence if they could show their actions were “reasonable”.
However, this would apply only in “a very small number of circumstances” such as to prevent a child “from engaging in illegal or dangerous behaviour”.
Anyone breaching a civil order, which could be obtained by social workers or activist groups on behalf of alleged victims, could face two years behind bars.
The maximum penalty for those guilty of a criminal offence would be seven years in jail, an unlimited fine, or both.
The SNP has chosen to push ahead with the law despite the damage inflicted on the party by Nicola Sturgeon’s controversial gender self-ID law, which was blocked by the U.K. Government.
A planned conversion therapy ban in England has been shelved by Rishi Sunak amid internal disagreement over what would be covered.
The Scottish Equalities Minister behind the proposals, Emma Roddick (pictured) is a 26 year-old woman who identifies as bisexual. That’s right, she was still at school in 2015. Exactly the person you’d want imposing her wacky Gen Z views on millions of people.
Worth reading in full.
To join in with the discussion please make a donation to The Daily Sceptic.
Profanity and abuse will be removed and may lead to a permanent ban.