Parents who do not permit their children to change gender could face up to seven years in jail according to new proposals from the Scottish National Party seeking to ban “conversion therapy”.
The measure has been described as “criminalising parents” and having a “chilling impact on therapists and counsellors”, according to the Telegraph.
The paper reports that the proposals state: “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.
Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg said that the SNP was “obsessed by gender recognition”, claiming the issue was doing the party “so much harm in the polls.”
‘Stopping your son from wearing a tutu to school, could result in serving time under the latest SNP plans,” he claimed, describing the proposal as a “warning to parents” that if their 3-year came home and said they were transgender, they must listen “or face the consequences and bide your time behind bars.”
🚨 ICYMI:
'Under new SNP plans, Scottish parents who refuse to allow their children to change their gender could face up to 7 years in jail'@Jacob_Rees_Mogg says 'if your son comes home, says he wants to wear a tutu to school, and you say no, then it could be off to jail'. pic.twitter.com/eO2PaMmX44
— GB News (@GBNEWS) January 11, 2024
According to The Telegraph,preemptive civil orders could be obtained against parents and religious leaders, even when the offending conversion practices had not yet taken place.
“Under SNP plans, social workers or activist groups would be able to obtain a civil order on behalf of alleged victims of “gender suppression”. Parents who “breach the order” could face up to seven years in jail, an unlimited fine, or both,” the Family Education Trust said.
Member of Scottish Parliament for the Conservatives, Pam Gosal, also hit out at the proposals.
“The SNP-Green gender ideologues are at it again. Concerned parents who dare to challenge their child’s gender identity could be criminalised. Why are the SNP-Greens obsessed with intruding on family life?” she posted.
The SNP-Green gender ideologues are at it again.
Concerned parents who dare to challenge their child’s gender identity could be criminalised.
Why are the SNP-Greens obsessed with intruding on family life? 👇https://t.co/Mg71FV5hGU
— Pam Gosal MBE MSP (@PamGosalMSP) January 11, 2024
Marion Calder, director at the campaign group For Women Scotland, told The Telegraph : “We have grave concerns that these plans will criminalise loving parents, who could face years in jail simply for refusing to sign up to the gender ideology cult.
“They will also hand activists and social workers unprecedented powers to meddle in family life, while having a chilling impact on therapists and counsellors.”
She warned the the SNP and Green alliance in the Scottish Parliament that the measure could be blocked in the courts, as recent controversial ‘self-ID’ proposals were.
However, SNP equalities minister, Emma Roddick, said conversion practises were “damaging and destructive” violations of that person’s human rights.
“The consultation responses we receive will help us to further consider those measures we can take to stop the harm of conversion practices and protect those at risk while ensuring that freedoms – including freedoms of speech, religion, and belief – are safeguarded,” she said.
The resignation of Nicola Sturgeon as the leader of the Scottish National Party and First Minister in February 2023 was in large part attributed to her handling of a controversial transgender law, in addition to issues around Scottish independence from the United Kingdom.
Sturgeon faced a storm of criticism from women’s rights groups, and a public backlash, because of her dogged support for measures which would allow people to change gender easily and quickly, a move critics said would endanger women.