Conversion therapy: ‘signs are not good’

The Scottish Government is consulting on a far-reaching ‘conversion therapy’ ban on ‘any effort to change, suppress or inhibit a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity’.

The proposals include a new civil protection order that could be used ‘for preventing harm caused by individuals or institutions that conduct conversion practices on a wider scale’.

The Free Church of Scotland has warned of the implications for church trustees. Responding to the consultation, it said: ‘It could result in ministers, church workers and parents being disqualified from being trustees of charities or holding senior management positions in charities.’ Churches and other religious charities holding to orthodox Christian teaching could have their charitable status withdrawn.