Critics of the Government's proposed Conversion Practices Bill have warned it could criminalise ordinary conversations about faith, sexuality and gender, with one Christian campaigner claiming it appears to have been "drafted by a sixth former using AI".
The UK Government has published a draft Conversion Practices Bill for England and Wales, aiming to ban what are commonly known as "conversion therapies" — coercive attempts to change or suppress a person's sexual orientation or gender identity.
However, Christian organisations have raised concerns about the scope and wording of the legislation.
The Evangelical Alliance said existing laws already provide "significant protections" against the kinds of abuses the Government is seeking to address. Its UK director, Peter Lynas, said: "The definition of abusive practices is entirely subjective and could leave a wide range of people at risk of prosecution even years later."
Speaking to Premier Christian News, Simon Calvert, Deputy Director for Public Affairs at The Christian Institute, was highly critical of the draft legislation.
"This legislation looks like it's been drafted by a sixth former using AI," he said.
"It brings the whole area of what you say and your opinions and your private conversations you have with your children, potentially into the criminal law."
Despite his concerns, Calvert encouraged Christians not to be deterred from discussing their faith or answering questions about sex and sexuality.
"I would say, do what you normally do. Answer the question about sex and sexuality just as you would any other question. I trust Christians to know how to speak to individuals knowing that they're made in the image of God."
Meanwhile, Chief Executive of Christian Concern, Andrea Williams said: "At the heart of the Christian message - the gospel - is change. We are converted from spiritual death to spiritual life and, over time, transformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ. Any bill that seeks to hinder that change by leaving people without the support they desire is an anti-Christian one."
She added: "There is no need for a ban. Genuinely abusive practices involving physical harm are not being practised and would be covered by existing laws.
"This bill opens the door to the persecution of parents and pastors through false accusations of abusive conversion practices. It entirely dodges questions about what actions genuinely are harmful or abusive, instead using terms like 'controlling or coercive words', 'use of economic pressure' and 'use of psychological or emotional pressure'."
Under the draft bill, anyone found carrying out prohibited conversion practices could face an unlimited fine, up to five years in prison, or both.
The legislation would also make it a criminal offence to encourage or assist such practices overseas, extending protections beyond England and Wales. The Government first committed to introducing a ban in 2021.
Equalities Minister Olivia Bailey said conversion practices are "driven by the false belief that being LGBT+ is shameful and can be forcibly changed."
She added: "No-one should face abuse just because of who they are. That's why we are delivering on our manifesto commitment to ban abusive conversion practices."
Bailey said that "legal loopholes" remain and need to be addressed.
The Government says the proposed law is intended to draw a clear distinction between criminal coercion and ordinary religious teaching or preaching on sexual ethics. It argues that practices such as forced or intensive prayer sessions intended to "cure" a person's identity would constitute abuse.
The proposal comes as trials of new puberty blockers for under-18s are expected to begin, with the first children due to be recruited in August with parental consent. Legal action could yet delay the start of the trials.