Northern Irish ministers have agreed to ban ‘conversion therapy’ for LGBT+ people. The fresh initiative comes after the region’s Health Ministry said in July it was too busy with COVID-19 to move forward on a ban.
Meanwhile the UK has promised for two years it will ban attempts to ‘cure’ people’s sexuality or gender identity. However, so far no part of the UK has advanced bills to do so through parliament.
Northern Ireland’s breakthrough came when Communities Minister Carál Ni Chuilín agreed to take the policy lead on the issue.
She did so after meating with her colleagues, Health Minister Robin Swannand and Justice Minister Naomi Long. That indicates their three major parties – Sinn Féin, the Ulster Unionist Party and Alliance Party – are