Debate contribution: Conversion Practices (Criminalisation) Bill: Second Stage
Debate contribution by Mr Eóin Tennyson on .
- 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 5763086
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I thank the Member for that intervention, but he has absolutely not been maligned. It is a statement of fact that, in 2021, the Ulster Unionist Party was talking about a union of people and rights for LGBT people. Under Jon Burrows's leadership, that is no longer the case because that party has followed a more regressive direction. That is a statement of fact. With respect to the Member, I encourage him to read Hansard because his characterisation of my contributions to this debate is completely inaccurate. Even Paul Givan, who, I would say, is not my biggest fan, acknowledged that I understand this subject and that I have responded to Members in some detail on it. It is possible to respectfully disagree without calling into question my integrity and my understanding of a Bill that I drafted, and I would remind the Member of that. I do not recall him introducing any legislation to the Assembly or having any experience in that space, though he is an expert on everything. The UUP's position is clear, and the public will draw their own conclusions. However, the cry of "bad law" is not the get-out-of-jail-free card that the Member claims it to be. We are debating the principles of the Bill today, and if you believe in the principle that LGBT people should be protected from coercion and harm, you can vote for the Bill today and, as other Members have done in the course of the debate, acknowledge that that support is contingent on improvement and amendment as the process proceeds. It is not about that; it is about politics, not substance. I do, however, accept his Damascene conversion, and I am glad to see that he commits not to do any dodgy TikTok videos of this debate. That will be a first. I have debated the DUP's position at length with the Minister. After three days of debate, we will respectfully disagree, but I point out again that the DUP had opportunities in 2021 and 2024 to support motions in principle to ban conversion practices and, even in that format, could not commit to do so. That calls into question the DUP's commitment to equality and to moving these issues forward. In closing, I thank all the organisations, LGBT groups, churches, medical bodies, therapists and so many others who have taken the time to engage with me on this issue. I thank, in particular, all those people who are victims and survivors of conversion practices, who have spoken bravely about their experience. It is not easy. Ultimately, I return to the principle that this is, at its heart, a safeguarding Bill. It is about protecting LGBT people from harm and sending a clear message that they are not ill or broken, that they need no cure and that they should never face coercion or abuse simply because of who they are or who they love. Given the scandals that we are aware of in religious settings — some Members have called for exemptions in the home, churches and elsewhere — I think that we have taken the right decision not to do those carveouts on the basis of settings, because we know that some of the most pernicious and harmful abuse is conducted by those who are in positions of authority or people whom we trust and love. That can have the most damaging impact, and that is why we need to strike the appropriate balance. No one should be subject to unregulated, unscientific or unsafe practices in any modern society. Those practices simply have no place in this society. Even if it were possible to change someone's fundamental nature, it would be far better for us to focus our time and energy on changing the hearts and minds of those who spout bigotry and prejudice and to leave LGBT people alone. I commend the Bill to the Assembly.
650 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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