Debate contribution: Conversion Practices (Criminalisation) Bill: Second Stage

Debate contribution by Miss Nuala McAllister on 15 September 2026.

MLA

Miss Nuala McAllister

Party at the time

Alliance Party

Date

15 September 2026

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

Conversion Practices (Criminalisation) Bill: Second Stage

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5706950

Read the official Assembly record

Text

I will not give way, because I am not going to listen to moral arguments about why you should or should not have such beliefs. You are entitled to your beliefs — everyone is — but let us be clear: the DUP does not speak for the majority of parents in Northern Ireland or in any society. The majority of parents do not seek to impose their anti-LGBT views on their children. The fact that Members are leaning on that argument as a reason to oppose the Bill is pathetic, and everyone can see through it. It illustrates your weakness. There are parents who have honestly held beliefs. I recognise that, in this society, most of those are based on Christian values. To them, I say this: you are entitled to those beliefs, but where you do not align yourself with your child's sexual orientation or gender identity, I ask you and many who have suffered ask you to have those conversations lightly, when you have them, because you are treading on the heart of your child. If you have no intention to convert, coerce or cause harm to your child, you have nothing to fear from the legislation. I ask you not to listen to the DUP. Read the Bill and listen to the facts.

I am moving on to my conclusion. The DUP has 20-odd Members listed to speak, so you have not been curtailed in your right to express your opinions in the Chamber. I am moving on to conclude. I have set out the legal issues that many Members cannot understand in this complicated Bill. As I said, that is OK, because it is a complex Bill. That is why the sponsor has taken such time and diligence to go through it. Sometimes, it is difficult to see what is in front of you when it does not suit your narrative. We must accept, not only in this legislation but in our role of legislators, that there is also a moral argument before us. The very idea that anyone would seek to suppress or convert a person because of who they are is simply repugnant. Many Members on the Benches across from me — Members from all sides of the debate — speak about the importance of protecting religious freedoms. Of course, I agree with that, as a libertarian.

As a liberal; thanks.

It is really important to highlight

I will finish.

Many on the Benches across from me speak about the importance of protecting religious freedom. I have stood in the Chamber and said that I do not hold other Members' beliefs but that, as a liberal, it is important that I allow them to express their beliefs. I was sent this by a friend who is a Christian and gay. I do not pretend to know all the Scriptures in the New Testament, but my friend said:

"Listening to the debate today is a sad indictment of where we are in society, but it also fills me with hope that perhaps we can truly ban conversion therapy, something that has harmed me and many others in society."

I will leave Members with Romans chapter 15, verse 7:

"Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you".

542 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 16:22 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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