Alliance Party Deputy Leader Eoin Tennyson launches bill to criminalise gay conversion therapy - The Conversion Practices (Criminalisation) Bill

Mr Tennyson said that "so-called conversion practices are deeply damaging and destructive acts that have no place in our society".

However the Christian Institute, a faith-based public affairs charity, expressed concern the bill would target prayer and pastoral care by church ministers.

Government ministers in Westminster, Holyrood and Belfast have been voicing ambitions to outlaw 'conversion therapy' since 2018, however none have succeeded. Defining conversion therapy has remained contentious, with critics arguing that adults' right to voluntarily seek such therapy is protected by European human rights.

Mr Tennyson said his bill would criminalise practices which aim to "change or suppress someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity”.

He added that his proposal includes safeguards for legitimate healthcare and therapy, and “robust protections” for free speech.

The bill would make it an offence to provide conversion therapy, engage in coercive conversion behaviour, or remove a person from Northern Ireland for such therapy.

Someone found guilty could face a fine, a custodial sentence of up to two years, or both.

Mr Tennyson said such therapy is "based on the false and wholly unscientific premise that LGBTQ+ people are ill and in need of a cure, and that our identities can and should be changed or suppressed".

He added: “The impact can be lifelong. Those with lived experience of conversion practices have reported severe mental health consequences, including anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts.

"No one in our community should face harm because of who they are or who they love.

"Legal loopholes have left LGBTQ+ unprotected vulnerable to insidious abuse to date.”

However the Christian Institute, which helped defend Asher's Bakery in the so-called 'Gay Cake' case, said the proposal was "a complete non starter".

NI Policy Officer James Kennedy said the proposal "appears to be targeted at Christian prayer, pastoral care, and gender-critical expression”.

He added: “Eóin Tennyson appears to have entirely missed that physical and verbal abuse are already illegal in Northern Ireland. There simply isn’t a need for a new law.

“If LGBTQ+ people are being abused, Mr Tennyson and his supporters should be helping them get justice under the existing law.”

He said research commissioned by the Department for Communities struggled to find any victims who said new legislation was needed.

The Christian Institute also cited legal advice from Aidan O’Neill KC, who warned the proposals could criminalise parents exercising "any form of parental authority or guidance" on sexuality and gender and have a "chilling effect" on religious bodies and feminists expressing dissenting views.

But Northern Ireland Humanists Coordinator Boyd Sleator said the bill is "an incredibly positive step”.

He added: “LGBT+ people here have too often been put under pressure by families, churches, and communities to deny who they are, sometimes in the name of care or faith.”

Earlier this week the UK government launched its own bill to outlaw conversion therapy.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission welcomed the bill but warned that legitimate medical treatment and rights to freedom of religion and expression must be protected.