AQW 21977/17-22

Mr Andrew Muir
Alliance Party
North Down

Tabled Date: 07/09/2021
Answered On Date: 16/09/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Communities to detail the work undertaken by her Department since January 2020 to progress a ban on Conversion Therapy on the basis of gender and sexual orientation, other than publication of the Sexual Orientation Expert Advisory Panel’s Report.

Answer:

I am committed to banning the practice of Conversion Therapy as soon as possible. However, it is important to ensure that we take all necessary steps to ensure that the ban is as robust as possible and to prevent further harm.

Since becoming Minister for Communities, I have had a series of discussions with stakeholders and members of the LGBTQI+ communities who are most affected by this practice, including a meeting in July with representatives from The Rainbow Project, HERe NI and TransgenderNI, where we discussed how best to involve the sector in this work.

My officials are currently working with LGBTQI+ organisations to explore how best to take forward research into the practice and impact of conversion therapy in this region. This research, which will be commissioned in the coming weeks, will underpin and support our policy proposals.

Work to inform the drafting of the legislation has commenced and an initial study of legislation to ban conversion therapy in other jurisdictions has been completed. I will continue to work closely with stakeholders and colleagues in other departments and jurisdictions in the development of legislative proposals.