Humanists urge new Work and Pensions Secretary to disavow links to ‘dangerously homophobic’ group
Humanists have come out swinging against new Work and Pensions Secretary Stephen Crabb, over alleged links to a group which sponsored a gay ‘cure’ event.
Mr Crabb was appointed to the Work and Pensions brief after the resignation of Iain Duncan Smith.
The former Secretary of State for Wales, who opposed same-sex marriage, has faced tough questions about his links to CARE – a religious charity which opposes gay equality and sponsored a ‘gay cure’ event.
The Conservative MP for Preseli Pembrokeshire began his career as an intern for anti-LGBT religious group Christian Action Research and Education (CARE), and has since taken interns from the group himself.
CARE previously co-sponsored a ‘gay cure’ conference including talks on “mentoring the sexually broken” and speeches from ex-gay therapists. Mr Crabb insists that he does not personally “support or endorse any views about ‘gay cure’ theology”.
The British Humanist Association has today called for Mr Crabb to disavow the group.
LGBT Humanists Chair Richard Unwin told Huffington Post: “The so-called ‘gay cures’ promoted by groups that Mr Crabb is connected to are appallingly misguided and harmful. Not only do they not work, they have also been shown to leave lasting damage, and, in some extreme cases, lead to suicide.
“Mr Crabb has also made ridiculous claims that promotion of secularism encourages Muslims to join ISIS, voted against equal marriage, and espoused the view that gay couples are unfit to adopt children.
“In our view, Mr Crabb is an enemy of reason, and appears to hold dangerously homophobic opinions.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Work and Pensions declined to comment when contacted by PinkNews.
