Every imported question, contribution and motion, with its classification. Unflagged, uncertain and not-yet-analysed records are all included so the analysis can be checked independently.
With respect to the Member, she has not altered her remarks on the back of what I have said. I have given the Member two examples. Indeed, in my opening remarks, I gave an example that involved a therapist sitting down and engaging in pseudoscientific therapy, linking an individual's sexual orientation to the…
I thank the Bill sponsor for his intervention. I will continue my remarks. Instead, the Bill takes concepts that are already addressed in law and lowers important thresholds and surrounds them with vague, subjective and undefined terminology — and we have heard so much undefined terminology this evening. I know that,…
I thank the Member for giving way and for her engagement in a pre-legislative scrutiny session with all members of the Communities Committee, which was really constructive. She talks about gaps. There are two gaps, which have already been identified and stood up by the case studies and evidence that have been…
At the outset, I say that abuse is abhorrent, whether it be coercion, cruelty, humiliation, violence or abuse that is directed against any person because of their sexual orientation or how they understand their gender. However, opposing abuse does not require us to support a badly drafted Bill, nor should legitimate…
Having a therapeutic conversation that is about exploration — not telling, threatening or degrading someone — does not meet the definition of "coercive behaviour". Again, that is in the Bill. I fundamentally disagree with the assertions that you are making. I will move on. It is 8.15 pm, and I would like to hear from…
It is clear in the Bill that there has to be a directed victim. It is not about a congregation. To commit any crime that is outlined in the legislation, the perpetrator has to have intent, knowing the gender identity or the sexual orientation of the person at whom they are directing their behaviour, and has to believe…
Thank you. The point about faith is that not all Christians take the same position, so there needs to be tolerance of the fact that there will be difference. There are Churches and ministers and pastors who will preach that homosexuality is wrong, that it is wrong in the Bible, that there is only male and female and…
Thank you, Mr Tennyson. Some of the conversation has been about counselling, and one of the most powerful observations that I made when preparing for the Bill was with an accredited and regulated counsellor in my constituency who works with people affected by conversion practices. She deals with the therapeutic…
I thank the Member for giving way. How you distinguish between coercive behaviour and difficult and challenging conversations is an important issue. That is a legitimate point of debate at all stages of the Bill. From my perspective, given the definition that we have employed, the individual in question would have to…
I thank the Minister. I believe that we should have respectful conversation around this; that is important. You cannot cherry-pick parts of the Bill. It is a package. You can lift things out of context and say, "This is what is covered".
I appreciate the Member's giving way. A parent may do something out of love, but this is where we may disagree on what loving your child means and whether it is to be affirming, not disapproving or, for some parents, disapproving. Will the Member confirm whether, if a child comes forward and has something to say, in…
No, just a wee second, please, Mr Frew. On 1 June this year, the Education Minister stood in the Chamber and urged Members of my party to support the Education Inspections Bill at Second Stage. His argument was very simple: send it to Committee, allow scrutiny, allow engagement, allow amendments and allow compromises…
Thank you. With all due respect, Minister, you are highlighting exactly and precisely what the Committee Stage is for. Surely, a House that agrees on the problem should be prepared to examine the solution at Committee Stage.
I appreciate the Member's giving way. First, will she agree that "general principles" does not mean that we have to speak in generalities about this? Secondly, it is not just about what the Member says the Bill does; we have to look at what it actually does by interrogating the text. That why the Deputy Speaker, who…
I support the Bill because it seeks to address practices that are discredited, damaging and fundamentally incompatible with the values of an equal, shared and inclusive society. As has been mentioned, conversion practices are based on the fundamental faults and wholly unscientific belief that LGBT people are…
I thank the Member for his intervention. I was just coming on to the points that he has made very well. I am going to take fewer interventions, because time is moving on and I am aware that others wish to speak. Obviously, someone's gender and sexuality are very significant matters in their life. If someone close to…
FlaggedGender, sexuality, abortion and related social issuesCriteria met: Identity framing, Sectarian or communal antagonism, Dog-whistle messaging.