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

Debate contribution by Mr Paul Frew on 22 September 2026.

MLA: Mr Paul Frew
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 5741204

Text

I thank the Member for giving way. Perhaps the Bill sponsor does this deliberately, but, every time that we give him a scenario, he reverts to clause 2, which is the offence of engaging in coercive conversion behaviour, and not clause 1, which is the offence of providing conversion therapy. That is what parents, teachers, preachers and pastors will get caught up in, more than any other clause. Interestingly, of those two clauses, although clause 2 sounds as though it is more severe, it comes with the same penalty.

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

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