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# Motion to ban conversion therapy in Northern Ireland
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/motion-to-ban-conversion-therapy-in-northern-ireland-sees-support/
- Published: 2021-04-22T09:30:08.000Z
- Updated: 2021-04-22T07:03:52.000Z
- Description: The Assembly voted 59 to 28 in favour of a motion calling for a national ban on LGBTQ+ conversion therapy.
- Author: Rachel Badham
- Tags: News, Politics, Queer Corner, ban conversion therapy, Democratic Unionist Party, equality, LGBTQ, LGBTQ Conversion therapy, LGBTQ+ rights, Northern Ireland, Stonewall, UK, UN

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/belfast-pride-ireland-600-400.jpg)

The **Northern Ireland** Assembly voted 59 to 28 in favour of a motion calling for a national ban on LGBTQ+ conversion therapy on **April 20**. According to the [*Belfast Telegraph*](https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/uup-bid-to-ban-conversion-therapy-in-northern-ireland-passes-assembly-vote-40335283.html?ref=scenemag.co.uk), the **Ulster Unionist Party** (UUP) introduced the motion and stated it was *“fundamentally wrong to view our LGBTQ+ community as requiring a fix or cure”.* All major political parties, besides the right-wing **Democratic Unionist Party** (DUP), voted in favour of the motion.

Following the vote, UUP representative **Doug Beattie** said: *“I am delighted that we were able to bring this issue to the floor of the Assembly. Since our motion was announced we have seen a swell of vocal support across all sections of society for a ban on this harmful practice.”* He also said that conversion therapy has *“no place in our society.”*

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/doug-beattie-600-400.jpg)

Doug Beattie

While the vote was largely symbolic, LGBTQ+ activists are hopeful it will lead to a concrete ban on the controversial practice, with **Fergal McFerran** of **Stonewall Northern Ireland** saying: *“For years, LGBTQ+ people here have relied either on Westminster or the courts to deliver progress for our community. Today is a signal that provides hope that the Executive can and should be the first government on these islands to deliver a ban on conversion therapy practices in every setting in which they occur.”*

The **UK** parliament is also debating a national ban on conversion therapy, with the **UN** [recently](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/un-urges-uk-to-ban-conversion-therapy/) urging authorities to do so in order to *“protect the life, dignity, health and equality of LGBTQ+ persons.”*

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/end_conversion_therapy.jpg)