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

Debate contribution by Mr Eóin Tennyson on 15 September 2026.

MLA: Mr Eóin Tennyson
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 5707390

Text

We are in danger of straying into pretty dangerous and offensive territory. There is a difference between a sexual orientation, which is innate, and an impulsive sexual disorder, which people of any sexual orientation can experience. I encourage the Member to look at the World Health Organization's classification of the issues, which has informed some of our local legislation, because it is clear on what is a pathologised disorder and what is an innate characteristic. People are watching the debate, so we need to be conscious that we are getting into the territory in which Members, perhaps unintentionally — I am not saying that the Member is doing it intentionally — start to conflate the terminology on sexual disorders with terminology on sexual orientation. That could be offensive territory, and we need to tread very lightly. We must be clear that those are two separate issues and that the courts would interpret them as such.

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

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