Telegraph boss Lord Black calls on Government to ban gay ‘cure’ therapy
PinkNews Exclusive
The Executive Director of the Telegraph Media Group, Lord Black, has called on the Government to ban the widely condemned practice of gay conversion therapy.
In a written question to the Government, Lord Black of Brentwood asked “whether they are considering introducing legislation to prevent the practice of reparative or conversion therapy on homosexual men and women.”
Earl Howe, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health, responded this week, to simply say: “This Government does not believe that being lesbian, gay or bisexual is an illness to be treated or cured.”
Speaking to PinkNews, Lord Black reacted to commend the Government for its stance against the practice, but said more needed to be done to ban it.
He said: “I’m pleased that the government is so firmly against the principle of reparative therapy. But we need to do more. It’s time for these terrible practises to be banned by law, and I will be looking for an early opportunity to bring forward legislation on the matter for Parliament to consider.”
Great campaign> Telegraph boss Lord Black calls on Government to ban gay ‘cure’ therapy https://t.co/pTpxYq6Mm0 via @pinknews
— Murdoch MacLennan (@MMacLennanTMG) June 27, 2014
The CEO of Telegraph Media Group Murdoch MacLennan tweeted his support
The practice of gay “cure”, or “conversion” therapy is widely criticised as harmful to recipients. At least two states in the US have passed legislation banning the practice on minors.
During the debates on same-sex marriage, Lord Black, who helped lead the campaign in the Lords in favour of equality said: “I am in a civil partnership with somebody with whom I have been together for nearly a quarter of a century. I love him very much and nothing would give me greater pride than to marry him.”
