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UK News

Parliament to debate ban on 'gay cure' therapy

by Antony Bushfield

Conservative MP Mike Freer has secured a debate in Westminster Hall to call for "gay conversion therapies" to be outlawed.

The debate comes after Education Secretary Nicky Morgan said the treatment, given to gay people to help them get rid of same sex attraction, should be banned.

The government minister, who is also a Christian, was speaking at the PinkNews Awards in October.

While presenting an award, Mrs Morgan, who is also Minister for Women and Equalities, said: "I was shocked to discover that 1 in 10 social and healthcare staff have heard colleagues express the belief that someone can be cured of being gay.

"Let me be clear: gay cure therapies have no place in our countries and we must stamp them out."

Mr Freer said in light of the minister's comments he will use the debate to press the government for a ban.

He said: "There is no scientific evidence which confirms why people are gay - they just are.

"On the flip-side, when looking at 'conversion' treatments, there is no credible research evidence, according to the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCP), to suggest that through psychological therapy, professionally trained psychologists can 'convert' homosexuals into heterosexuals.

"In 1990, far too late in my opinion, but nonetheless welcome, the World Health Organisation removed homosexuality from its directory of psychological disorders, internationally recognising that homosexuality was not and is not a 'disorder' which can be 'cured'.

"In fact, not a single medical body supports the concept of 'reparative' therapy. The RCP, the UK Council for Psychotherapy, the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and the British Medical Association have all concluded that such therapy is 'unethical and potentially' harmful."

But many Christian groups still promote the idea.

Andrea Williams from Christian Concern said: "Talking about 'gay cures' is emotive and misleading if we're simply talking about those who want counselling for unwanted same-sex attraction."

Speaking to Premier when a bill to ban this sort of therapy was brought to Parliament back in 2012, Andrew Symes from Anglican Mainstream said: "A lot of people are very concerned about this. It seems to be an attack on freedom.

"Many Christians believe that gay sexual relationships are wrong so what happens if Christians are same-sex attracted? They can be helped to live a celibate life but also there are many Christians who have counselling to investigate the possibility of changing orientation.

"It just seems that this bill is trying to deny that possibility to people."

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