From the Telegraph – Labour backlash over conversion therapy ban:
Andy Burnham is facing a backlash from Labour MPs over the party’s proposed ban on conversion therapy.
A former Labour health minister has raised “serious concerns” about the draft Conversion Practices Bill, claiming that it places parents at risk of prosecution.
Under the draft laws, people face five years in jail for pressuring someone to change their sexuality or gender identity.
“Or gender identity” is of course the key point here. There are already laws against forced gay conversion therapy. This bill would now introduce a new fantasy term straight out of the trans playbook.
Preet Kaur Gill, the MP for Edgbaston, who served as under-secretary of state for health and social care from May to July this year, told The Telegraph: “Nobody should ever be subjected to abuse because of their LGBT identity. The intentions of the bill – seeking to protect vulnerable people – are laudable.
“Yet there are serious concerns about the draft text that undermine what has become clear in recent research about the vulnerability of children exploring gender ideology.”
Well yes. They’re inevitably influenced by social media. This fantasy of changing sex needs to be discussed, not immediately made sacrosanct on pain of legal sanctions.
She added: “As the Cass Review advised, parents and guardians must have freedom to take a cautious approach when navigating sensitive topics with their children. The evidence shows that devices such as chest-binders or puberty blockers can cause long-term bodily damage.
“But by criminalising words that amount to ‘economic’ and ‘emotional pressure’, the bill could undermine this advice from Cass, and ensnare parents who simply want to properly examine the risks involved with early ‘transition’, and where appropriate, advise against rushing into the use of such serious interventions.
“It would be wrong if a bill created to protect vulnerable people would overreach into potentially causing unnecessary censorship of important and loving conversations within families.”
Exactly.
Joy Morrissey, the shadow equalities minister, said the bill risked undoing the work of the Cass Review to draw lines on the gender treatments available to children.
She said: “It is right that Labour backbenchers are sounding the alarm on the draft Conversion Therapy Bill. It is a complete mess and the risk of criminalising parents just for trying to support their children as advocated by Dr Cass is clearly unacceptable.
“Children are being exposed to gender ideology all over social media, leading to parents needing to make difficult choices in how they support them. It cannot be right that wanting to protect their child from life-altering medical transitions leads to parents being prosecuted.
“The Government has a chance to step back from the brink and listen to these concerns being raised. They must take it.”
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