Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Outrage over Mccausland’s social media post regarding ‘gay conversion’
He ‘should resign’ from Education Authority
THE Education Authority has responded to controversy over a board member and former DUP minister sharing a post on Facebook about so-called “gay conversion”.
Nelson Mccausland has faced calls to resign from the board after he shared an article from a Christian website about an American man who claims to have been gay until he met Jesus.
The former DUP MLA wrote: “A powerful testimony of a life changed by God and some important insights into the whole ‘gay movement’ from someone who has been there.”
His Facebook post was condemned by other parties and LGBT campaigners, who accused him of promoting “conversion therapy practices”.
An online petition calling for his resignation has received hundreds of signatures. Mr Mccausland is a DUP nominee to the Education Authority board.
Barry Mulholland, chairperson of the EA board, said that equality, diversity and inclusion are central to its work.
He added: “Personal comments or social media posts made by any member of the Authority cannot be taken as a reflection of the position of the wider Education Authority board.
“Equality, diversity and inclusion is central to everything EA do and we are committed to working to support staff, children and young people to overcome the barriers to full inclusion and participation in society and to ensure that all feel welcomed, safe and valued.”
John O’doherty, right, from LGBT advocacy group the Rainbow Project, earlier said they would be making a formal complaint to EA.
He added: “Nelson Mccausland has always opposed LGBT equality but his promotion of conversion therapy practices means that he should have absolutely no say in the education of young people and we agree with those who are calling for his resignation from the board of the Education Authority.
“These so-called practitioners prey on the most vulnerable and isolated members of our community, seeking to make them hate an immutable part of who they are.
“These practices must end and we will continue to work with the Department for Communities to ban these practices in Northern Ireland and with partners in other jurisdictions to see bans in England, Scotland and Wales enacted.”
SDLP councillor Seamas de
Faoite, who launched the online petition, condemned conversion therapy as “repugnant” and “incredibly dangerous to the wellbeing of young LGBT+ people”.
Green Party councillor Anthony Flynn also urged Mr Mccausland to resign, adding he and his colleagues would be writing to EA calling for an investigation.
He said: “We can’t have someone like Nelson being a board member of the EA and having any influence over our kids – it is dangerous.”
Mr Mccausland defended his Facebook post, claiming the article he shared was “not about any so-called gay conversion therapy”.
He added: “It was a testimony in the form of an interview about the life-transforming power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
“The person interviewed had not undergone any therapy.”
It was a testimony about the life-transforming power of the gospel of Jesus Christ NELSON MCCAUSLAND YESTERDAY