Why The Draft Conversion Practices Bill Must Not Be Passed
The Draft Conversion Practices Bill has entered the early parliamentary scrutiny stage, when its definitions, safeguards and potential effects can still be examined and amended. EBSWA’s evidence highlights the implications for social work, child safeguarding, parental responsibility and professional judgement before the Bill progresses further.
The Bill aims to prohibit practices intended to change or suppress a person’s sexual orientation or transgender identity. Its proposals include a criminal offence for abusive practices causing serious harm, civil Conversion Practice Protection Orders, and offences relating to encouraging or assisting such practices, including overseas conduct. The Bill also gives courts and public authorities powers to intervene where a person is considered at risk.
EBSWA’s submission explains why we are calling for the Bill to be dropped. Homosexuality is already well protected in law, with severe penalties for offences involving violence, coercion, abuse or exploitation. The proposed Bill is therefore unnecessary for protecting lesbian and gay people, while its broad and subjective provisions could criminalise legitimate parental discussion, professional curiosity and safeguarding assessments.
We believe that the Bill's provisions would interfere with parents rights and professional judgment, forcing social workers to impose an unevidenced ideological belief in "transgender identity".
We would welcome an invitation to give evidence to the committee to explain our opposition and provide further evidence of the risks and harms posed by the Bill.
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