AllieBaba
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- Oct 2, 2007
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- Banned
- #81
British Medical Association labels gay conversion therapy harmful, discredited
Following a year-long undercover investigation by a reporter, the British Medical Association has determined that gay conversion therapy is not therapy, is more harmful to patients than helpful, and should be banned.
Journalist Patrick Strudwick posed as a patient seeking gay conversion therapy or reparative therapy for a year. In his report on his experience, he described what amounted to psychological torture; Strudwick went to two conversion therapists. One, a Christian, focused on turning him to focus on her god and tried hard to convince Strudwick hed been sexually abused. The other focused on explaining to Strudwick that he was somehow wounded, and that he had to find the source of those wounds to discover the roots of his sexuality.
Both of these therapists were licensed and receiving funds via the NHS. Strudwick learned that they use methods created by Joseph Nicolosi, the Christian Evangelical American founder of the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality.
The British Medical Association has determined that such therapies have been discredited, are damaging to patient, and should be banned. The Associations membership further agreed that the NHS should investigate any cases of such conversion therapies, and terminate any public funding to such practices.
Tom Dolphin, vice-chair of BMAs junior doctors committee, proposed the motion. Sexuality is such a fundamental part of who a person is, that attempts to change it just result in significant confusion, depression and even suicide. You cant just wish away same-sex attraction no matter how inconvenient it might be, says Dolphin.
Strudwick commented on the successful motion, My undercover investigation for The Independent, which prompted this motion, highlighted the fact that not only are psychiatrists and psychotherapists still peddling these abhorrent techniques, but that in some cases the NHS are paying for it.
Hopefully, anyone involved in the so-called treatment of homosexuality will realize that the medical profession considers them dangerous charlatans, and will reconsider their beliefs. I also sincerely hope that any vulnerable gay person who is unhappy about their sexuality takes notice of this motion and realizes that it is the world that needs to change, not them.
Completely irrelevant.
As usual.