Dominic Hannigan, the Labour Party’s European Election candidate in the Midlands North West constituency, has called for a ban on gay conversion programmes in Ireland.
Mr Hannigan – one of the first two openly gay TDs elected to Dáil Éireann – said that, if elected, he will work towards progressing a Europe-wide solution to the “gravely harmful practice” of LGBT+ conversion.
Commenting yesterday, April 8, Mr Hannigan said: “Recent media reports that gay conversion programmes are operating in Ireland are extremely worrying. These grotesque practices are based on religious fundamentalism, rather than evidence-based science.
“Conversion programmes have been condemned by the United Nations and the Psychological Society of Ireland, amongst many other professional bodies. They are profoundly damaging, not only for the young people forced to participate in the programmes but also because of the impact they have on the wider LGBT+ community.
“Being gay is not an illness or a psychological disorder. It is repulsive and offensive to hear that organisations are active in Ireland that hold such beliefs. I welcome former President Mary McAleese’s comments, calling on the government to ensure groups involved in gay conversion are kept well away from young LGBT+ people.
“I am calling for a ban on such programmes here in Ireland. Furthermore, I will work with MEPs from across the European Union to find Europe-wide solutions to ensuring such programmes are shut down. As a starting point, this week I am signing the ILGA’s ‘Come Out Pledge’, which calls on European candidates to stand up for LGBT+ rights. I’m calling on all candidates in the Midlands North West constituency to do this too.
As a member of the LGBTI community, I will always fight to defend our rights. #Dom4Europe #EP19 pic.twitter.com/r5oyZWhZO7
— Dominic Hannigan (@Domhannigan) April 8, 2019
“Ireland has been a leader in recent times when it comes to extending rights to LGBTQI people. We can – and should – be a leader again by banning these types of programmes.”
An investigative report by Cormac O’Brien GCN magazine shed a light on the practice of conversion therapies in Ireland back in 2010. Organisations such as Courage International, who promote the use of conversion therapies, are currently active in the country and have been advertised through parish newsletters.
Senator Fintan Warfield’s bill to ban LGBT conversion therapy in Ireland is currently moving through the various stages of the Government.
© 2019 GCN (Gay Community News). All rights reserved.
Support GCN
GCN has been a vital, free-of-charge information service for Ireland’s LGBTQ+ community since 1988.
During this global COVID pandemic, we like many other organisations have been impacted greatly in the way we can do business and produce. This means a temporary pause to our print publication and live events and so now more than ever we need your help to continue providing this community resource digitally.
GCN is a registered charity with a not-for-profit business model and we need your support. If you value having an independent LGBTQ+ media in Ireland, you can help from as little as €1.99 per month. Support Ireland’s free, independent LGBTQ+ media.
comments. Please sign in to comment.