David Hilditch (L) and Tom Buchanan (R). (Northern Ireland Assembly website)
Two DUP representatives have been heavily criticised by LGBT+ activists after they sent “condescending and disrespectful” responses to campaigners pushing for a full ban on conversion therapy.
On Tuesday (20 April), MLAs in the Northern Ireland Assembly debated a motion calling for conversion therapy to be banned in Northern Ireland. An overwhelming majority voted in favour, with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) the only major political party to vote against it.
The DUP faced significant criticism from the LGBT+ community in the days leading up to the debate after it tabled an amendment to the motion which would remove a line that said it is “fundamentally wrong to view our LGBTQ community as requiring a fix or cure”.
Arlene Foster will presumably not be impressed. (Getty)
The Northern Ireland Assembly has voted overwhelmingly in favour of a motion calling for the cruel, torturous practice of conversion therapy to be banned once and for all.
The motion was passed by 59 to 24 votes, with all major political parties other than the ultra-conservative Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) voting in favour.
MLAs voted on the motion on Tuesday afternoon (20 April) following a tense debate, which saw elected representatives from across the political spectrum speak on the urgent need for conversion therapy to be banned in Northern Ireland.
The Assembly’s motion recognises that conversion therapy is a “harmful practice” that damages the mental health of those who are subjected to it. Though non-binding, advocates hope the resounding vote in favour will give a clear mandate to the communities minister to pursue a rigorous and extensive conversion therapy ban.
In a statement released by the Anti Conversion-Therapy Coalition (ACTC), the organisation has forcefully condemned the proposed amendment by the DUP in the Northern Ireland Assembly to “remove vital protections” for LGBT+ citizens.
The proposed amendment would see the removal of a key phrase from the constitution, which may permit conversion therapy for LGBT+ people, on the grounds of religious belief or practice.
Conversion therapy is a highly controversial psychotherapy approach which seeks to “convert” LGBT+ people to heterosexuality and hetero-normativity. This practice has been banned in many European countries, including the Republic of Ireland, as it is widely deemed to be a highly dangerous and psychologically damaging practice by Psychological & Psychiatric experts in the field.
); A person s sexual orientation is not up for debate : O Gorman moves to outlaw conversion therapy in Ireland
The move comes after a new cross-party all-island coalition this week called for the practice to be banned. By Cónal Thomas Thursday 15 Apr 2021, 5:03 PM 2 hours ago 13,255 Views 30 Comments
Image: Shutterstock/Derick Hudson
Image: Shutterstock/Derick Hudson
MINISTER FOR CHILDREN Roderic O’Gorman has moved to ban conversion therapy in Ireland and tasked officials with exploring ways to outlaw the practice in the Republic.
Conversion therapy refers to any form of treatment proposed to change a person’s sexual orientation or to suppress a person’s gender identity. There is a commitment in the Programme for Government to legislate to ban it.
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