The Northern Ireland Assembly has voted to push forward with plans for a new ‘conversion therapy’ law.
Following three days of debate, MLAs voted 46 to 29 in favour of Eóin Tennyson’s Conversion Practices (Criminalisation) Bill. The Alliance MLA’s Bill will now proceed to scrutiny by the Committee for Communities.
Under the proposals, parents and church leaders could face up to two years in prison if they are deemed to be intending “to change or suppress sexual orientation or gender identity”. This, for example, could include refusing a child’s request for puberty blockers.
‘Chilling effect’
Minister of Education Paul Givan warned MLAs that the Bill’s supporters are seeking to criminalise “free speech” that they find “offensive”, whether spoken by family members, pastors or members of the public.
He argued that “nobody has the right not to be offended in a free and democratic society. I am offended daily by what people often have to say, it causes me distress, but I don’t believe for one moment that I should have the right to take them to court.”
“This Bill is profoundly illiberal. It is not conducive to a society that is based upon free speech, freedom of religion, and is one that is designed to have a chilling effect.”
Opinions
Addressing the impact on families, Brian Kingston MLA highlighted that the proposals would prevent parents from even asking if their child is sure that they are another ‘gender’.
“You can only affirm, you can’t question. It could be that the child comes back a couple of days later and says ‘actually I’ve decided I’m something else, I’m surprised you didn’t challenge me when I told you the first time’.”
He emphasised that “people challenge us all the day about our politics, about our views on matters, and we expect that and we take that, and that is part of having views on anything. But on this, you’re not allowed to question somebody, you just have to affirm it, and if you don’t do that you’re potentially committing a criminal offence.”
‘Criminalising conversation’
James Kennedy, Northern Ireland Policy Officer at The Christian Institute, said: “Christians right across Northern Ireland are united in opposing genuinely abusive practices. But the existing law is sufficient to tackle these.
“This Bill goes far further. It would criminalise prayer, pastoral care and preaching, in a range of scenarios relating to sex and gender, and it would outlaw aspects of ordinary, loving parenting.
“It uses broad sweeping terminology, like ‘suppression’ and ‘gender identity’ without defining them at all, making radical gender self-ID the backbone to this criminal law. ‘Harm’ is defined as including mere ‘distress’, putting already fraught conversations right within the ambit of criminal sanction.
“We will continue to urge MLAs to oppose this Bill as it progresses through Committee Stage, and we will continue to draw MLAs’ attentions to its many dangers.”
‘Parents in prison’
Prior to the debate, Genspect and the Free Speech Union co-hosted an event in Belfast exploring freedom of speech surrounding biological sex and how Tennyson’s Bill would intrude into private homes.
‘Banned in Belfast? Free Speech, Conversion Therapy and the New Northern Ireland’ brought together groups, including The Christian Institute, alongside clinicians and members of the public.
Dr Jan Macvarish, Director of National Engagement at the Free Speech Union, said: “One of the most concerning things we heard was how many people are already afraid to speak openly about these issues.
“This legislation could mean that being a good parent or a caring professional puts you at risk not just of losing your job but of imprisonment.”
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