Mick Hartley

I wondered the other day if Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch was being sidelined in the government's decision to include gender in the proposed ban on conversion therapy, given her long-standing opposition to gender ideology.

Well, there's this today in the Telegraph:

The equalities minister is to write to all Tory MPs to insist that a ban on trans conversion therapy must not criminalise parents, as a backlash against the plans grew.

In a highly unusual move, it is understood that Kemi Badenoch intends to set out her concerns over the proposed legislation, announced in the Commons on Tuesday.

She will warn that legitimate conversations between parents and trans children must not be outlawed and that freedom of religion must be protected.

The letter reflects concern in Downing Street that Tory MPs will rebel over the introduction of the conversion therapy ban, and comes as the Government was embroiled in a row over Nicola Sturgeon’s plans to make it easier to change gender….

For months, the UK Government has oscillated over whether to ban trans as well as gay conversion therapy, but Michelle Donelan, the Culture Secretary, confirmed on Tuesday that the ban would go ahead.

Although the move was announced by Ms Donelan, Mrs Badenoch is the minister responsible for the ban. She is understood to be concerned that it will be “hard” to ensure that there are no unintended consequences and that “there is much still to work on”.

The Telegraph understands that she intends to stress in her letter that great care needs to be taken when writing the Bill, with input from doctors and parents as well as the LGBT+ community.

So there's a long way to go yet.

Kate Harris, the co-founder of LGB Alliance, welcomed Ms Donelan’s “measured” announcement and its emphasis on pre-legislative scrutiny.

“Such detailed analysis is vital to ensure that key terms such as “gender identity” and “trans” are clearly understood, and unforeseen consequences avoided,” she said.

“The most extreme example of such legislation has been introduced in Victoria, Australia, where clinicians or teachers are liable to up to seven years in prison for any neutral talking therapy for children and young people who wish to change gender.”

Jesus. That's insane.

If you want a clear idea of exactly what's involved here, with troubled young teens encouraged on social media to embrace a new gender identity as part of their Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria (ROGD), check out the three part How to deprogram a ROGD teen at The Glinner Update – Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.