Скачать или смотреть Conversion Practices Motion - NI Assembly Plenary Session - Tuesday 4th June 2024

The SDLP today brought forward a motion calling for the banning of conversion practices, yet they are deliberately being ambiguous in defining exactly what conversion practices are.

Pete Byrne, SDLP councillor states: "[Some politicians] say that churches offering pastoral care or sitting down and talking and preaching to people about their lifestyle doesn’t constitute conversion therapy. But I’m sorry, it does."

The meaning has been changed in recent times from the use of physical abuse, sexual abuse, or electric shock treatment, to encompass even the discussion of sexual attraction fluidity. This begins with the lie that sexual orientation is a biological trait and is not something that can change, yet we see numerous high profile examples of celebrities changing their sexual orientation, likely for attention in the media, yet it is never mentioned that they have been through a conversion at any point.

The shift in definition and language of conversion therapy is being weaponised to attack Christianity. The use of electro-shock, physical abuse and sexual abuse is already illegal, so it is entirely disingenuous for the SDLP, Alliance and others to suggest that these practices are legal.

The Christian faith uses terms such as getting converted or being a "new creature" in Christ. These are historical terms and represent asking God for repentance from sin, and trusting in the Son of God's finished work of self-sacrifice on the cross to cleanse the sinner from sin.

The motion in the NI Assembly today is as follows:

"That this Assembly deplores that harmful and damaging conversion practices are still legal in Northern Ireland; recognises that conversion practices can take many forms and can occur in a variety of settings; notes the findings from the May 2024 publication, A Study of Conversion Practices in Northern Ireland, by Professor Fidelma Ashe and Dr Danielle Mackle; reaffirms its support for a ban on conversion practices in all forms; and calls on the Minister for Communities to commit to bringing forward legislation on an effective ban on conversion practices before the end of the current Assembly mandate."

The study quoted is based on interviews with 10 people and does not have any scientific rigour. It should be disregarded as a piece of propaganda to suit a certain pro-LGBTQIA+ agenda.

There are 2 amendments to the motion today, one to include the provision that religious practises are exempt and to include the following:

"A Study of Conversion Practices in Northern Ireland, by Professor Fidelma Ashe and Dr Danielle Mackle; further recognises that where an individual voluntarily wishes and actively seeks prayerful and pastoral support, this should not be withheld from them, and as such this does not constitute a conversion practice".

It should be a point of note that the current discussion of sexual orientations and LGBT practices in the classroom under the guise of RSE, could also be classed as a conversion therapy, especially the use of after-school, pro-trans, LGBT clubs that have LGBT teachers indoctrinating vulnerable children.

The Christian Institute set up a website solely to discuss this here:

https://letuspray.uk/

The Assembly Business Motion: Conversion Practices can be accessed here:

https://aims.niassembly.gov.uk/plenar...

00:00 start of session
07:28 Brian Kingston
19:35 Doug Beattie
28:50 Jim Allister
35:00 Communities Minister Gordon Lyons
43:50 Maurice Bradley
57:09 Vote on Amendment
58:55 Tellers appointed for vote on amendment
01:06:55 Vote result on amendment
01:13:19 Tellers appointed for vote
01:18:00 MLAs to take their seats, problems with voting system
01:21:50 Tellers Appointed for vote again
01:27:55 Vote result on Conversion Practices Motion

66 Members voted
41 Members voted AYE
25 Members voted NO
The Motion Was Carried, Simple Majority Lobby Division