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MLAs Debate Law that Would Criminalise Conversion Practices in NI
The bill would ban coercive conversion practices and could bring up to two years in prison for offenders, supporters say.
- On Tuesday, Stormont MLAs debated Alliance Party deputy leader Eóin Tennyson's Conversion Practices Bill, which would impose up to two years in prison for practices attempting to change sexual orientation or gender identity.
- Previous indicative motions in 2021 and 2024 showed assembly support for banning conversion therapy, with this legislation introducing specific criminal offences for coercion mirroring definitions from the 2021 Civil Proceedings Act.
- Activists from the Rainbow Project rallied in Belfast to support the legislation, while The Christian Institute warned that vague definitions around "fear, alarm or distress" could threaten parents with up to two years in prison.
- DUP leader Gavin Robinson and UUP leader Jon Burrows voiced strong opposition, arguing the bill is "excessively broad" and potentially criminalises legitimate parental guidance, while Sinn Féin and the SDLP are expected to support the measure.
- Although unionist parties cannot block the bill's current second stage, they could potentially employ a petition of concern mechanism later in the legislative journey to veto the proposal's progress through the Assembly.
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Stormont MLAs urged to pass legislation to ban gender or sexuality conversion practices
Alliance MLA behind bill says ‘cruel and archaic acts persist’ and must be tackled but unionists say existing criminal law addresses issues and new legislation a danger to parents and free speech
·Belfast, United Kingdom
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MLAs debate law that would criminalise conversion practices in NI
The Private Member’s Bill has been tabled by Alliance Party deputy leader Eóin Tennyson.
·London, United Kingdom
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Lawmakers in Northern Ireland urged to take historic opportunity to ban conversion practices
Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) have been urged to take a “historic opportunity” to pass Eóin Tennyson MLA’s Conversion Practices (Criminalisation) Bill, which would make Northern Ireland the first jurisdiction on these islands to introduce a ban on conversion practices. The call comes from the Ban Conversion Practices Coalition, which has written an open…
Coverage Details
Total News Sources11
Leaning Left5Leaning Right2Center3Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Left
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources lean Left
50% Left
L 50%
C 30%
R 20%
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