The government has announced it will introduce a new bill to criminalise conversion practices in England and Wales – and the plans will cover transgenderism.
The planned new laws would make it illegal to try to persuade anyone to resist any LGBT temptations that they may face.
Christian groups fear that the laws could inadvertently catch certain types of Christian preaching, praying, pastoring or parenting which express biblical beliefs about sexuality and gender.
But a letter sent to MPs by Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch says, ‘The freedom to express the teachings of any religion, as well as everyday religious practice, will not be affected by the ban.’
That statement has been welcomed by religious freedom groups, but the detailed wording of the planned legislation has yet to be published.
Legislating in this area is highly controversial, with concerns that it effectively introduces a LGBT blasphemy law so that nothing can be said against a progressive view of sexuality and gender.
