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

Debate contribution by Mr Eóin Tennyson on 28 September 2026.

MLA: Mr Eóin Tennyson
Party at the time: Alliance Party
Date: 28 September 2026
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Private Members' Business
Heading: Conversion Practices (Criminalisation) Bill: Second Stage
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5762741

Text

I thank the Member for giving way. Members have been quick to point to organisations, some of which are fairly fringe, that oppose the Bill, but they do not point to the myriad of medical, therapeutic or psychotherapeutic organisations that have supported the banning of conversion therapy. Legitimate therapy is explorative; it does not have a predetermined outcome. That will be challenging at times. It will be about asking questions — "Why do you feel like this?" — to support people in making their decision and understanding themselves. Conversion therapy is where you start with a predetermined outcome of stating that one sexual orientation or gender identity is wrong and, if a person does not conform to that — if that is not who they are — forcing them to change their behaviour. People have a right, of course, to express their views; people have a right to freedom of expression; but people do not have a right to harm anybody — the test in the Bill is "harm" — or to forcibly impose their beliefs on others. That is the balance that the Bill strikes.

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

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