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

Debate contribution by Mr Timothy Gaston on 28 September 2026.

MLA: Mr Timothy Gaston
Party at the time: Traditional Unionist Voice
Date: 28 September 2026
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Private Members' Business
Heading: Conversion Practices (Criminalisation) Bill: Second Stage
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5762796

Text

I thank the Minister for his intervention. I completely understand why he is concerned about that. I have listened to Mr Tennyson who has been at pains to say that that is not the case, but the reality is that it is not about what Mr Tennyson says in the Chamber; it is about what is written in the Bill. If somebody was speaking at a meeting, and you were coming under their instruction, I can see how that could, quite quickly, pass a lot of the tests in Mr Tennyson's Bill. You could tick those boxes. Take "distress": absolutely, if someone was coming under instruction, that would be the case. If the legislation is so tightly drawn, innocent counselling should be exempt in it and never be criminalised.
I am happy to give way to Mr Kingston.

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

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