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The SNP is said to be battling a rebellion over its new plans to introduce a ban on conversion therapy, which could see parents face up to seven years in jail if they don't let their children change gender.
Up to 15 MSPs are thought to be opposed to the plans, which is the first major legislation being introduced in 2024.;
A consultation into the SNP proposals was launched earlier this week.
Scotland is looking at implementing a ban on conversion therapy, which would criminalise any actions designed to "change or suppress" the gender identity of another individual, and any action that causes another individual physical harm or psychological distress.
The SNP is said to be battling a rebellion over its new plans to introduce a ban on conversion therapy
PA
The plans, published last week, would make it illegal for parents to prevent a child from "dressing in a way that reflects their sexual orientation or gender identity".
Marion Calder, director at the campaign group For Women Scotland, claimed the plans are part of a "gender ideology cult".
She said: "We have grave concerns that these plans will criminalise loving parents, who could face years in jail simply for refusing to sign up to the gender ideology cult.
“They will also hand activists and social workers unprecedented powers to meddle in family life, while having a chilling impact on therapists and counsellors."
She warned that if the SNP "insists" on pushing this laws through, it could end up "going the same way" as the self-identification and named person laws - which were blocked by Westminster.
Meanwhile, former SNP Cabinet minister Fergus Ewing warned that he had not "come across any parents who were happy about the prospect of some third party having power – unclear and unspecified power at that – over their own children".
He added: "Politicians interfere with family life and parental rights at their peril."
Sources told the Scottish Sun that 15 MSPs are prepared to rebel over the legislation.
But defending the proposals last year, Blair Anderson, from the End Conversion Therapy Campaign, explained: "Where a conversation takes place where someone has the explicit intention, or the hope or the aim or the desire to change someone's sexuality or gender which is not possible, which is extremely traumatising: that should be banned because banning that protects LGBTQ plus people from harm."
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A Scottish Government spokesman said: "Conversion practices that try to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity are harmful, discriminatory, and have no place in our society.
"We're committed to introducing legislation that will ban these harmful practices as far as possible within devolved competence just as many jurisdictions across the world have already done, and UK Government intends to partially do.
"This will be done fully recognising and respecting the legal right to freedom of religion, expression and a private and family life, which are protected under existing laws."
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