The Irish government has announced that they will disregard convictions for sexual acts between consenting men that occurred prior to 1993 when homosexuality was decriminalized in the country. Along with this, the government plans to introduce legislation that would ban the practice of conversion therapy, which aims to change, suppress, or eliminate an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity.
During the period when homosexuality was illegal in Ireland, at least 940 men were convicted. The decision to disregard these historical convictions comes after a public consultation by the Department of Justice. Justice Minister Helen McEntee spoke to the national broadcaster RTE about the move, saying, "I don't think we can fully comprehend the hurt and pain that has been caused through decades of criminalizing homosexuality." She also added, "What I'm trying to do is not erase that hurt or that harm but certainly to right a wrong and to help on the path of healing for so many."
Conversion therapy is a cruel practice that involves shaming and stigmatizing individuals in an attempt to change their sexual orientation or gender identity. The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O'Gorman, announced that legislation to ban this practice will be introduced in the coming weeks with the goal of passing it into law early in 2024. O'Gorman also emphasized the harmful effects conversion therapy can have on individuals, especially those who are subjected to it at a young age.
Ireland has taken significant steps towards LGBTQ+ rights in recent years, legalizing same-sex marriage in 2015 following a referendum. This decision to disregard historical convictions and ban conversion therapy further cements Ireland's commitment to protecting and supporting the LGBTQ+ community.