‘Gay cure’ group complains that psychiatrists don’t believe homosexuality can be cured
A Christian ‘gay cure’ group has lodged complaints about the Royal College of Psychiatrists – who they claim are “discriminating” against people who want to ‘fix’ their sexuality.
The Core Issues Trust – who held a ‘Transformation Potential’ conference this week discussing conversion therapy – has lodged a complaint with the General Medical Council (GMC) because the RCP believes that that homosexuality is “biological in nature and fixed at birth”.
The anti-gay group believe this is “discrimination” for people “who experience homosexual feelings but wish to reduce them” – and claims the RCP has since stated sexuality is “neither inborn nor unchangeable”.
One of the complainants, former GP Dr Peter May, said: “There is good evidence that sexual orientation can change.
“Yet the largest UK providers of psychotherapy and counselling, including the UK Council for Psychotherapy and the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy, have all made ethical policy statements, banning any therapy which seeks to facilitate such a change.”
President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, Professor Sir Simon Wessely, told the BBC: “The Royal College of Psychiatrists notes that homosexuality is not a psychiatric disorder.
“There is a large body of research evidence that indicates that being gay, lesbian or bisexual is compatible with normal mental health and social adjustment.
“We consider that the provision of any intervention to ‘treat’ normal sexuality is unethical.”
In January this year a memorandum on rejecting conversion therapy was published, to which the RCP and NHS alongside other bodies have signed.
PinkNews previously revealed that UKIP candidate Alan Craig had been due to attend the group’s ‘gay cure’ conference – and the party defended his plans as “freedom of speech”.
However, he was dropped by organisers who did not want to be associated with any one political party.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg praised the memorandum, referring to gay ‘cure’ therapy “abhorrent”, and last week the Obama administration called for a national ban of the practice.
