This afternoon Sandra Osborne MP will open a Westminster Hall Debate in the House of Commons on the topic of gay-to-straight conversion therapy. An official response from the government on the subject is expected as part of the debate.
She told BiMedia, “My aim in arranging this debate is to raise the profile of the surprisingly-prevalent problem of conversion therapy in Britain, and to force the government – who have so far only said they do ‘not condone’ conversion therapy – into making a bolder statement against this heinous practice.
“I am concerned about the links between professionals in the NHS and conversion therapists, particularly in the under-regulated psychotherapy sector. Like many MPs across the political spectrum, I think it’s about time that Parliament properly discusses this problem so that vulnerable LGBT people aren’t forced to undergo ‘cures’ that hurt and don’t work.”
In the UK nothing currently prevents conversion therapists from freely operating or practising in the psychotherapy sector, and there is some evidence of NHS patients being referred for such treatment despite it not being recognised by the Department of Health.
Osborne tabled an Early Day Motion in Parliament earlier this year with cross-party support calling for a ban on the provision of gay-to-straight conversion therapy for under 18s.
An amendment to the motion proposed by Swansea MP Geraint Davies would remove the “under 18” limitation.
Jen Yockney from BiPhoria, the UK’s longest-running bisexual group, welcomed today’s debate. “Supposed conversion therapy has been widely debunked. It seems claims of people being ‘cured’ of homosexuality and ‘turned straight’ depend on a mixture of individual guilt and shame, and keeping bisexuality out of the public consciousness in wider society.”
“Sexuality can change over time – many people who come to bi social and support groups have previously considered themselves gay or straight – but there seems to be no conscious element involved.”
Meg Barker from research organisation BiUK adds, “This is a relic of a byegone age and it’s an embarrassment that it is still offered in Britain in 2013.”
“There are clear British Psychological Society and British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy policies against the practice but that, sadly, research suggests that some practitioners continue to try to change bisexual people’s sexuality even when they accept that gay/straight conversion therapy is wrong.”
Early Day Motion 219 reads:
“That this House believes that being lesbian, gay or bisexual is not a disease or illness and that therapy which attempts to cure or change a person’s sexual orientation is both ineffective and potentially extremely harmful; notes that a 2009 survey of 1,300 British psychiatrists, therapists and psychoanalysts revealed over 200 had attempted to change at least one patient’s sexuality (BMC Psychiatry, 9:11, 26 March 2009); further notes than an undercover investigation in 2010 (The Independent, 1 February 2010) found one psychotherapist claimed most of her clients were forwarded to her from her local GP; further notes that the Department of Health does not condone the concept of therapists offering cures for homosexuality and recognises that the practice may well cause significant harm to some patients; is deeply concerned that nothing currently prevents conversion therapists from freely operating in Britain or practising in the psychotherapy sector; and therefore calls on the Government to investigate any NHS links with conversion therapists, ensuring that NHS medical professionals cannot inflict this cruel treatment on their patients and to take steps to ban conversion therapy for under-18s.”
So far 53 MPs have given the motion their support: details can be found here
