A draft bill introduced by UK Equalities Minister Olivia Bailey threatens parents, teachers, and doctors with up to five years in prison for attempting to dissuade children from undergoing irreversible transgender medical procedures.
The legislation, published on Thursday, targets conversion therapy—practices intended to alter or suppress a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. Under the bill, individuals who try to prevent children from identifying as gay or transgender could face criminal charges and imprisonment.
Critics argue that the bill’s broad definition of abuse includes “controlling or coercive words or behaviour” and “use of psychological or emotional pressure,” which may lead to wrongful prosecutions for discussions about gender identity. Bev Jackson, co-founder of LGB Alliance, a gender critical advocacy group, stated: “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.”
The draft law has drawn significant criticism from civil liberties organizations. The Free Speech Union, a non-partisan body dedicated to free speech, warned that parents who “misgender” their children or attempt to talk them out of medical procedures could face prosecution. The group has launched a petition to repeal the bill, which has garnered thousands of signatures.
Maya Forstater, chief executive of Sex Matters, an advocacy group, described the measure as: “This is a dangerous proposal that will harm the people it purports to protect.”
The bill bears resemblance to legislation enacted in Michigan under Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s administration in 2023.
