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

Debate contribution by Mr Brian Kingston on 22 September 2026.

MLA: Mr Brian Kingston
Party at the time: Democratic Unionist Party
Date: 22 September 2026
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Private Members' Business
Heading: Conversion Practices (Criminalisation) Bill: Second Stage
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5740740

Text

I will come on to the other two clauses that the Bill sponsor mentioned. My concern throughout has been that he has set an extremely low bar in the Bill, which would see all sorts of people potentially facing prosecution. People might have what they thought was a reasonable conversation with somebody, but, afterwards, that person might reflect on it and think, "They were trying to direct me in a certain way. They were trying to suppress my identity. They were challenging me", which is what people might do in the course of a normal conversation. I go back to clause 1. Under clause 1(1)(a), the first criterion for an offence is if:
"the person provides or carries out conversion therapy in relation to another person".
Under clause 1(a)(b), the second criterion for an offence is if:
"the person has the intent of changing or suppressing the sexual orientation or gender identity of the victim".
How is intent proved? That is difficult to do. Intent will be up to the perception of the "victim" who is receiving the therapy.
Let me finish my point. If a young boy says, "I think I'm a girl", and someone says, "You're talking nonsense", which a parent or a friend might do, they would meet the criteria for that offence by being seen to be suppressing the boy's gender identity. I will now give way to the Member.

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

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