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

Debate contribution by Mr Jonathan Buckley on 22 September 2026.

MLA: Mr Jonathan Buckley
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 5740760

Text

I thank the Member for giving way. That is an important point. People have asked why I have continually asked the question about gender identity, which is mentioned in the Bill more than 11 times. The point that I will raise with the Member is a very important one. In his submission, Mr O'Neill KC talks about how the Bill goes further on gender self-identification than we have seen in Scotland. He talks about how, for the purposes of the Bill, the individual's gender identity, as defined in clause 6(1), which states, for accuracy:
"In this Act, a reference to a victim's sexual orientation or gender identity includes— (a) what the victim considers it to be",
would not have been referred to as such in the Scottish Parliament.
An individual could actually identify as whatever they wanted to be and fall within the scope of the Bill. Does the Member agree that that is why it is of paramount importance for the Bill sponsor, or any other Member who supports the Bill, to define clearly what they expressly mean by "gender identity" as per clause 6?
Will the Member give way?
I thank the Member. We have had another lengthy ruling from the Deputy Speaker. Each time that I raise that topic, however, I am diverted from getting an answer from somebody. Can I therefore ask the Member again whether, given that clause 6 talks specifically about "gender identity", including:
"what the victim considers it to be",
it is of paramount importance for the Bill sponsor, or any other Member who supports the draft legislation, to clearly define what they mean by that?

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

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