Parents who refuse to allow their children to change gender would face up to seven years in jail under SNP plans to ban “conversion therapy”.
Proposals published on Tuesday state that actions designed to “change or suppress” another individual’s gender identity, causing them physical or psychological harm, would become illegal under the radical law.
SNP ministers acknowledged that so-called conversion practices often took place in a “family setting”, raising the prospect that parents could be criminalised if they refuse to go along with their child’s declaration that they are transgender.
Last year plans by Nicola Sturgeon to allow children as young as 16 to change gender were blocked by the UK Government.
Anyone breaching a civil order, which could be obtained by social workers or activist groups on behalf of alleged victims, could face two years behind bars.
The maximum penalty for those guilty of a criminal offence would be seven years in jail, an unlimited fine, or both.
Source: Parents who refuse children gender change face seven years in jail in Scotland