Harmful ‘gay cure’ therapies could be banned in the UK
Following comments made by the Prime Minister David Cameron to PinkNews during the election campaign, the Government looks set to ban ‘gay cure’ therapies.
The future could see the most harmful of ‘gay cure’ therapies banned, particularly those offered to under 18s.
In a PinkNews Readers Q&A, Mr Cameron responded to a question on the issue from Telegraph executive director and Conservative peer Lord Black of Brentwood.
At the time, Mr Cameron described the therapies as “unethical and potentially harmful” adding that they are “neither endorsed nor supported.” He went on: “I think that’s a pretty firm approach to stop the use of these practices, but if we need to go further to protect people from harm, we will.”
Now The Sunday Times reports that Education Secretary and Minister for Women and Equalities Nicky Morgan is examining a way to put the Prime Minister’s words into actions.
A source told the newspaper: “This is an issue Nicky is concerned about and she is preparing for further action on it. She would want all steps taken to protect people, including vulnerable young people. We will be looking at safeguards and speaking to the royal societies.”
Depending on the way that the issue is tackled, action may also need to be taken by the Scottish and the Northern Irish governments to be UK wide.
Earlier this year the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, the British Psychological Society and the Royal College of Psychiatrists said “there is no good evidence this works and we believe it has the potential to cause harm”.
They added: “As homosexuality is not an illness, it is both logically and ethically flawed to offer any kind of treatment.”
The practice of offering ‘gay cure’ therapies to minors is already banned in the US states of California, New Jersey and Oregon, as well as Washington DC.
