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Protest against the 'gay cure' conference to be held in London (25 April)

Well, I guess it was bound to happen sooner or later. After several of indulging my political fibres in various ways, they have finally taken over and I suddenly, somwhow, find myself the organiser of a protest.

A couple of weeks ago, the Welcome Trust published the results of some research showing that a significant minority of psychiatrists and therapists are still attempting to help LGB clients become heterosexual despite a lack of evidence that such treatment is beneficial or even safe. While the ex-gay movement is quite visible in US, it came a bit as a shock to see that this is happening in the UK (see press release for more info).

Yesterday, I read in PinkNews that a conference organised by the so-called Anglican Mainstream Organsation (AMO) would be taking place this week-end in London having for guests some American supporters of aversion therapy.

Now all major medical associations in the US and the UK, have been clearly stating for at least two decades that homosexuality is not a disease and that it can therefore not be cured.

That some people are feeling uncomfortable about their sexuality is undeniable (there is a much higher rate of mental health issues within the LGBT community than in the wider community). The reason for this is however clearly to be found in the hateful rhetoric of such organisations as AMO (and let's not forget the Catholic Church here too). Rather than trying to push people to pursue the unattainable dream of becoming straight, would it not be better to exert a little Christian charity and be more welcoming and supportive of who they are, helping them accept who they are?

So this is it. The AMO's position can, in my view, not be left unchallenged and therefore I and a growing number of others will be protesting this Saturday between 1 and 3pm outside the venue of the conference. We sitll have to make sure of the venue (it was not published on the AMO's webpage for the event) but it seems that it is going to take place at the Emmanuel Centre, 9-23 Marsham Street, London SW1P 3DW (www.emmanuelcentre.com).

I am thinking of making it a silent, peaceful and dignified protest simply to show these people that they can not just say and do what they want. That we are here, happy with who we are and more importantly vigilant and not willing to be mistreated any longer.

For those who are on Facebook, I have created a group, which can be found here. Please feel free to join and invite your friends. I will be sending updates and information through this.

For those without Facebook, this blog should be your point of call for information.

Finally, if people have idea or comments, please feel free to share them with me.

See you on Saturday.

See also:
- 'Gay cure' protest - press release
- 'Gay cure' Protest - Update No 1
- 'Gay cure' Protest - Update No 2
- 'Gay cure' Protest - Update No 3

Comments

  1. Those struggling with unwanted same-sex attraction are more likely to seek re-orientation counseling. Surely this involves free choice and should not be offensive to gay and lesbian people who are content with their orientation and equally intent on free choice.

    Anglican Mainstream represents a position that holds to the Bible and to a lesser degree to Holy Tradition. The leaders sometimes do not articulate that the biblical position is inseparable from the worldview of the Afro-Asiatics from whom we recieve the Bible and Holy Tradition. So what we have is a conflict between the modernist worldview and the Afro-Asiatic worldview. Gay activists must take up the first since the latter holds homosex as a debasement of the Divine Image in which humans were created.

    I wouldn't worry too much about this, if I were you. The Modernist worldview (while inadequate) is clearly the dominant view. Culture is in your favor even if Truth isn't.

    ReplyDelete
  2. It's a while ago but I just saw your comment. I attended the event, not because those of a particular religious outlook don't have a right to seek any particular path they choose, even to the extent of pretending to be something they're not. No, I attended and protested because the techniques used by such so-called practitioners and therapists working in this area base their therapies on lies and misinformation and the extreme denigration of homosexuality. Let me repeat that key point - re-orientation counselling is based on lies and many of you people lie about homosexuality to achieve your ends.

    ReplyDelete

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