More than 200 people gathered at the Belfast Center to demand the inclusion of transgender people in banning conversion therapy.
Protesters held signs in front of Belfast City Hall’s front door reading “Ulster says no to transphobia” and sang: “Boris Johnson must understand, without trans people it is not forbidden.”
The government has been criticized for a series of backtracking on promised legislation banning conversion therapy and for withdrawing from the ban on including transgender people.
Speaking at a demonstration in Belfast, John O’Dherty, director of Project Rainbow, said that if conversion therapy is wrong for lesbian, gay and bisexual people, it is also wrong for transgender people.
He said: “I think it is important to send a message to Westminster.
“We are sending a message to Boris Johnson and expressing our solidarity with our organizations in the UK and Ireland.
Today we stand in solidarity to make clear to this government that it must end the damage.
“They have to complete conversion therapy.” “If conversion therapy is wrong for lesbian, gay, and bisexual people, it is also wrong for our transgender and non-transgender communities.”
O’Doerty added: “Long-term conversion therapy has had a profound impact on the lives of LGBT people.
We were told many years ago that we weren’t good enough. We have been told for many years that we need to change who we are.
“We are here today in this space of worship, to say… never. Never. Never.”
Source: Belfastlive

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