‘Outrageous’ NI conversion therapy plan could jail parents for opposing child’s ‘sex change’

Plans for a new ‘conversion therapy’ law in Northern Ireland have been branded “fundamentally illiberal” by a leading human rights lawyer.

Under Alliance MLA Eóin Tennyson’s Member’s Bill, parents and church leaders could face unlimited fines and up to seven years in prison for being involved in so-called conversion practices — including stopping their children from ‘changing gender’.

But in a 70-page critique, Aidan O’Neill KC warned that the proposals are “beyond the legislative competence” of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

‘Jellyfish legislation’

Mr O’Neill, who is advising The Christian Institute, stated: “Like the Scottish draft Bill these proposals for NI legislation are perhaps best described as ‘jellyfish legislation’. The concepts they use are impossible to grasp; the limits of the proposed legislation are wholly undefined”.

The KC explained that the plans are “beyond the legislative competence” of Stormont because of their “over-breadth, their disproportionate intrusion into private and family life and freedom of religion and freedom of expression, but also because of their fundamental internal incoherence”.

In fact, he said the proposals would create a law which is “ill-thought out, confused and confusing, and fundamentally illiberal in intent and effect”.

He emphasised that in contrast, a “liberal democracy is a society in which a multiplicity of diverse voices can be heard, and where freedom of expression is honoured. It is space in which dissent thrives and where a free and open and ultimately tolerant and pluralist society flourishes because of, not in spite of, contradiction and opposition.”

‘State-approved LGBT ideology’

The Institute’s NI Policy Officer James Kennedy warned that it will seek to legally challenge the Bill if it becomes law.

“If Tennyson’s proposal gets onto the statute book, it will be a tragedy for Northern Ireland. Ordinary mums and dads will face criminalisation for helping their children to be comfortable in their own skin, rather than seeking lifelong medicalisation and so-called transition for them. Telling your child ‘let’s just wait and see’ could land you with lengthy jail time and fines.”

He added: “Those who uphold traditional church teaching on marriage and gender could likewise face the full force of the law. Prayer meetings, Bible studies, pastoral care and church membership would all face the imposition of state-approved LGBT thinking.

“This is truly outrageous. Verbal and physical abuse is already illegal. Now one of the UK’s top lawyers has confirmed there is no gap in the law that needs to be filled.”