A motion, presented by the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), called upon Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey to introduce a conversion therapy ban.
Conversion therapy is the practice of attempting to ‘erase, repress, cure or change’ someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity through forms psychological and physical methods.
At its most extreme, it involves shock therapy where LGBTQ+ people are subjected to jolts of electricity while watching scenes of same-sex affection.
The UUP stated it was “fundamentally wrong to view our LGBTQ community as requiring a fix or cure”. The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) introduced an amendment which included protections in light of the pending ban for “legitimate religious activities such as preaching,