Let Us Pray campaign responds to House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee letter to Minister

Let Us Pray campaign responds to House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee letter to Equalities Minister Mike Freer.

Simon Calvert, spokesman for Let Us Pray, said: “When I gave evidence to the Equalities Committee I said that getting the conversion therapy ban wrong could result in the most religiously repressive law this country has seen in centuries. Nearly two thousand church ministers have signed a letter expressing concern about being criminalised. Women’s groups warn the ban could affect the rights of women, parents and children. And the Government was forced to extend its consultation after excluding people with learning disabilities . Yet the chair of the equalities committee says “The potential consequences of this Bill for the LGBTQ+ community are huge”. What about the potential consequences for the religious community, those with learning difficulties, women, and young people? The Equality Act lists nine protected characteristics. Is the equalities committee only interested in two of them?”

ENDS

Notes for Editors: The Let Us Pray campaign exists to defend the ordinary work of churches from an over-broad 'conversion therapy' ban that could make praying a crime.