Teachers could face prosecution under Labour's conversion therapy ban

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 14 Nov, 13:49 · Archive

School leaders warn that Labour's draft Conversion Practices Bill could lead to prosecutions of teachers and pupils over pronoun use.

School leaders, governors and teaching unions have warned that Labour's draft Conversion Practices Bill poses serious risks to staff and students. The legislation proposes prison sentences of up to five years and unlimited fines for abusive attempts to change someone's sexuality or gender identity.

Law firm Irwin Mitchell cautioned in its analysis that the bill is 'broadly drawn' and raises unclear questions for schools about 'where legitimate safeguarding ends and potential criminal conduct begins'. The firm questioned whether refusing to use a child's preferred pronouns would constitute an abusive conversion practice under the legislation, and whether schools could be required to compel other pupils to use those pronouns.

The National Education Union, Britain's largest teaching union, said it would engage with MPs to ensure there were no 'unintended consequences' for its members. A spokesman told The Telegraph that staff should follow workplace safeguarding policies but stressed that time for staff discussion was essential. The National Governance Association and Association of School and College Leaders have also criticised the draft legislation.

How it is being reported

• Teachers could face jail under Labour's trans bill, school leaders warnBritain's top school leaders have warned that the Labour Government's Conversion Practices Bill could see teachers imprisoned for questioning a child’s desire to change gender. Governors, headteachers and teaching unions argue that the draft legislation would put staff and students at risk of prosecution. They also fear that teachers who use the wrong pronouns for a child could be reported to the police under Labour's proposed law. The draft Bill proposes prison sentences of up to five years for "abusive" attempts to change someone’s sexuality or gender identity which cause serious harm or…GB News · 14 Nov, 13:25
• Teachers and schoolchildren face prosecution for refusing to use pupil's preferred pronouns under Labour conversion therapy ban, lawyers warnSchools that follow guidance requiring children to use toilets matching their biological sex could also be accused of 'abusive conversion practices' by suppressing their gender identity.Daily Mail · 13 Nov, 18:58

In this story: Labour · National Education Union · Irwin Mitchell · National Governance Association · Association of School and College Leaders · Telegraph

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