Church sets out position on ending conversion practices in Scotland

The Church has submitted evidence to a Scottish Government consultation on ending conversion practices in Scotland.

The government plans to introduce a Bill to the Scottish Parliament which seeks to protect against changing or suppressing a person's sexual orientation and gender identity.

The legislation also strives to ensure that fundamental rights already enjoyed by people in Scotland, such as freedom of religion and the right to family and private life, are upheld.

The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland considered the issues connected to conversion practices in 2022 and 2023.

In 2022 it endorsed the definition of conversion therapy as outlined in the ‘Memorandum of Understanding on Conversion Therapy in the UK', which acknowledged that the practice is unethical and potentially harmful.

The General Assembly agreed to ‘urge the Scottish Government to ban conversion therapy and instruct the Church to make representations to the Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament'.

Emma Jackson of the Church's Public Life and Social Justice Programme said: "We've been supported in this response through detailed conversations with internal stakeholders alongside ecumenical dialogues, discussion with equalities organisations and the government itself.

"We have been very mindful of the diversity of views within the Church and have sought to reflect in our response that we are a community that often live with contradictory convictions.

"We've sought in our submission to represent the views of the General Assembly and to be constructive in engaging on some of the detail of the proposals.

"The Church's thinking is deepened by hearing the experiences of survivors of conversion practices, and it is important we acknowledge the voices of those who are leading the call for this legislation.

"We are all created in God's image, and we all have inherent dignity. We must do all we can in our public witness to respect and affirm this high principle.

"These discussions and ideas have informed our position and I would urge Church members to read our consultation response and consider the issues raised."

Respect and protection

The document has been prepared and agreed by the Church's Public Life and Social Justice Programme Group.

It was formulated in consultation with the Church's theological forum, law department, safeguarding service and our equality, diversity and inclusion group.

In 2020, the United Nations Independent Expert on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity called for a global ban on conversion therapy.

Laws on conversion practices have been passed in Malta, Ecuador, Germany, Spain, France, Greece, Cyprus, Belgium, Iceland, New Zealand, and Canada, as well as several states and territories in Australia, Mexico, and the USA.

The UK Government and the Irish Government have also committed to bringing forward legislation to ban conversion practices.

The consultation on the proposed bill, which seeks to ensure that the rights of everyone in Scotland are respected, protected and fulfilled, was published on 9 January 2024 and closes at midnight on 2 April 2024.

You can find out more and respond to the consultation though the Scottish Government website.