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Efforts to silence those with concerns over a conversion therapy ban have reached extraordinary levels in recent weeks, as LGBT activists attack church ministers who wrote to the Government over the proposals. The church leaders had been clear that there was no place for abuse in churches. But they said that a ban could inadvertently… Continue reading Church leaders respond to attacks over conversion therapy ban concerns

The leader of an LGBT charity in Lancaster has suggested churches are “attacking LGBTQI people”, comparing concerns over a conversion therapy ban to the Holocaust. Speaking of the recent church ministers’ letter to the Government on conversion therapy proposals, CEO of ‘Out in the Bay’, Robert Mee, said: “People are still attacking LGBTQI people and… Continue reading Church leaders’ concerns compared to the Holocaust by LGBT charity

What is conversion therapy and why do activists want it banned? Is it to do with abhorrent practices such as ‘corrective rape’ and electroshock therapy? Or is it normal everyday church activities such as private prayer and pastoral care? Believe it or not, ban conversion therapy activists say it’s both – as though it’s normal… Continue reading Putting rape on the same spectrum as prayer is outrageous

In a letter to Church Times this week, Revd Huw Thomas comments on the 2,500+ Church leaders who wrote to the Government asking for a rethink of their conversion therapy proposals. He says they are expressing “faux concern” about ‘Christian conversion’ being confused for ‘conversion therapy’: “Such ministers, I presume, are aware that the word… Continue reading Church Times: confusing ‘Christian conversion’ for ‘conversion therapy’

Humanists UK have published their response to the Westminster Government’s consultation on banning conversion therapy. Despite claiming to be “strong advocates for freedom of religion or belief”, they call for any ban to include: “verbal communications … such as confessions/repentances, non-violent exorcisms, faith declarations, fasting, pilgrimages, and attendance on religious courses”. They also welcome the… Continue reading Humanists tell Westminster Govt: ‘ban repentance’

In the past week, Canada’s Conservative party leader, Erin O’Toole, has been ousted after a ‘leadership review’. Canada’s conversion therapy ban recently gained Royal Assent without ever having been scrutinised by a parliamentary or Senate committee. Conservative party motions saw it fly straight through all parliamentary stages without debate. The press reports ‘sources’ saying this… Continue reading Canadian opposition leader ousted after conversion therapy vote

My attention has been drawn to the empirical basis for proposed legislation in favour of criminalizing the provision of therapeutic services to those with unwanted feelings of same-sex attraction or ‘conversion therapy’ (hereafter, “CT”).  It is my understanding that the current discussion regarding the decision to criminalize CT is predicated on two pieces of research:… Continue reading Cambridge academic critiques Govt research on Conversion Therapy

Roderic O’Gorman, the Republic of Ireland’s Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, has reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to end ‘conversion therapy’, but says research on the practice must be carried out first. The Irish Green Party minister previously told the country’s LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy Steering Committee that there “needs to be an evidence… Continue reading Ireland: Research on conversion therapy needed ahead of legislation

As Chair of the ‘Ban Conversion Therapy’ campaign group, Jayne Ozanne’s views are significant. You would expect her to try to be moderate and persuasive. Yet, Ozanne has repeatedly called for aspects of the ordinary work of churches to be criminalised, infamously saying even “gentle, non-coercive prayer” should be caught. Ozanne, an outspoken member of… Continue reading Leading conversion therapy campaigner demands ban on teaching abstinence