IFTCC Submissions to Scotland’s ‘Conversion Practices’ Consultation
Submissions to the Scottish Government’s ‘Ending Conversion Practices in Scotland Consultation’ have been made by the IFTCC Science and Research Council Chairman, Dr Laura Haynes, and by a member of its Medical Council, Dr Andre Van Mol.
What do they define as ‘conversion practices’?
The Expert Advisory Group (EAG) on Ending Conversion Practices’ recognise that there is no international, universal definition of the term “conversion practices” however, they decided to define conversion practices as “any treatment, practice or effort that aims to change, suppress and/or eliminate a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity and/or gender expression”.
In their policy, the Scottish Government stated that it is “committed to tackling marginalisation and discrimination in Scotland. This Bill sits within a programme of Scottish Government policies that seeks to ensure that the rights of everyone in Scotland are respected, protected and fulfilled… ensuring that this legislation also upholds all existing rights protected in our law including freedom of thought, conscience, and religion; freedom of expression; and the right to family and private life”.
They also state that “Conversion practices are harmful to individuals subjected to them. They are promoted within an ideology that views LGBTQI+ identities as wrong and believes that they can be changed. Their existence contributes to this way of thinking even further”.
Dr Laura Haynes and Dr Andre Van Mol will be discussing to what extent the rights of everyone in Scotland will be ‘respected, protected and fulfilled’, whilst correcting false narratives in their submission, in an attempt to protect the rights of those who willingly wish to discuss their struggles with unwanted same-sex attraction or gender confusion.
Submissions to the consultation closed on the 2nd of April 2024. The responses will be analysed and used to help inform policy in this area. An analysis of the consultation will be published in due course.
You can read the IFTCC submissions below:
Dr Laura Haynes – https://archive.iftcc.org/iftcc-science-and-research-council-response-to-scottish-government/
Dr Andre Van Mol – https://archive.iftcc.org/iftcc-medical-council-response-to-scottish-government/
