Agenda item

            The Members were reminded that the Council, at its meeting on 4th May, had passed the following motion, which had been proposed by Councillor Maskey and seconded by Councillor O’Hara:

            Equality for LGBTQI+ Community

“This Council recognises the struggle for equality by generations of people who identify as LGBTQI+, acknowledges the successful work of LGBTQI+ activists in eradicating elements of institutionalised discrimination and condemns the continued inequalities experienced by those who identify as LGBTQI+.

We endorse in full the recommendations of the LGBTQI+ advisory panel and welcome the timeframe for the LGBTQI+ strategy (December 2021).

The Council calls on all Ministers and Departments with responsibility to proactively and robustly implement all elements of the LGBTQI+ strategy, including with adequate resourcing and funding.

We call on the Executive to commit to equality, respect and human rights for all sections of our society in its actions, words and deeds.”    

            The Members were reminded further that the Council, at the same meeting, had also passed the following motion, which had been proposed by Councillor Flynn and seconded by Councillor De Faoite:

Ban on Conversion Therapy

“This Council supports calls for a ban on the harmful practice commonly referred to as conversion therapy.

The Council acknowledges the hard work and dedication of the Ban Conversion Therapy NI coalition, made up of LGBTQ+ organisations, mental health charities and faith groups which are united in calling for this ban.

The Council notes the 'Memorandum of Understanding on Conversion Therapy in the UK' which describes this practice as unethical, potentially harmful and not supported by evidence.

The Council further notes the Association of Christian Counsellors' stance regarding conversion therapy, which states that Reparative (or Conversion) Therapy does not fit within the ACC Ethics and Practice framework.

The Council agrees that it is fundamentally wrong to view minority sexual orientation or gender identity as something that needs fixed or cured and that any practice, including religious practice, that is conducted with a specific pre-determined outcome, such as changing or suppressing a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity, is harmful and denigrating, and must be banned.

The Council will, therefore, write to the Minister for Communities as follows:

·        to support a legislative ban on conversion therapy in all its forms, before the end of the current assembly mandate;

·        to state that there should be no special exemptions for religious organisations in implementing a ban on conversion therapy; and

·        to state that any ban should clearly distinguish from safe and supportive therapies, delivered by suitable qualified and regulated professionals, that assist people to explore and better understand their sexual orientation, gender identity and/or gender expression.”

            The Members were informed that a response had been received from Mr. C. Savage, Head of Equality and LGBT Policy Unit, which had addressed both motions on behalf of the Minister for Communities.

Mr. Savage had pointed out that the Department for Communities was responsible for taking forward the development of the Northern Ireland Executive’s LGBTQI+ Strategy under the New Decade, New Approach agreement.

He reported that, in October 2020, a Sexual Orientation Expert Advisory Panel had been appointed to identify the themes and key actions which the Strategy should include and the gaps in provision which it should seek to address. The Panel’s Report had been published on 5th March, 2021 and can be accessed here: https://www.communities-ni.gov.uk/publications/report-sexual-orientation-strategy-expert-advisory-panel

The Strategy was being developed further using a co-design approach, with meaningful involvement from those within the LGBTQI+ communities and officials across other Departments.

In addition, a Ministerial Steering Group, comprising all Executive Ministers, would monitor the development of the four Social Inclusion Strategies and consider the funding and resourcing implications for their respective Departments.

Mr. Savage had explained that actions under the LGBTQI+ Strategy would aim to make a significant contribution to protecting the rights and equal treatment of LGBTQI+ communities and reducing discrimination throughout the duration of the Strategy and beyond.

The draft Strategy would, he confirmed, be subject to public consultation later this year, which would allow for comment and input from all stakeholders, including councils. Subject to Executive agreement, the final Strategy would be published in December, 2021,  with more details to be found on the Department’s website here: http://www.communities-ni.gov.uk/articles/sexual-orientation-strategy

Mr. Savage had gone on to confirm that the Minister had put on record her opposition to the practice of so called ‘conversion therapy’ and her determination that it should end as soon as possible. The Expert Advisory Panel’s Report referred to above had included recommendations aimed at ending conversion therapy. The Minister wished to explore all legislative options to ensure that any legislation would be fit for purpose and sufficiently robust. Officials had commenced work to inform the drafting of the legislation, in the context of the work which the Department was doing on the wider LGBTQI + Strategy.

He then stated that ending conversion therapy would engage a range of Ministers’ interests and that it was one of a number of cross-cutting matters for consideration by the Executive in the development of the LGBTQI+ Strategy. Officials were working with stakeholders and colleagues in other Departments and jurisdictions to learn from experience and to identify gaps in the law.

He provided an assurance that the points which had been raised by the Council would be considered when dealing with this matter and that there would be further opportunities to engage during policy development.

Mr. Savage had concluded by stressing that the Minister would continue to work with her colleagues in the Executive to develop and deliver the first LGBTQI+ Strategy in Northern Ireland and that she acknowledged the Council’s support for her work in improving the lives of LGBTQI+ communities, including action to end conversion therapy, and looked forward to its contribution to the development and implementation of the LGBTQI+ Strategy.

The Members of the Committee agreed to recommend that, in accordance with the Council decision of 4th May, the Chief Executive exercise her delegated authority to note the response.