Both Sides In ‘gay Cure’ Debate Accuse Each Other Of Ignorance

A recent parliamentary discussion in London regarding the possible outlawing of conversion therapies has unleashed angry responses from both sides of the debate.

Members of the “pray away the gay” camp are accusing politicians who want conversion therapy outlawed of being ‘ignorant’ about Christianity.

On the other hand, one leading opponent of such therapies – Jayne Ozanne, above – accused Equalities Ministers Liz Truss and Kemi Badenoch of being “astonishingly ignorant” about the dangers of conversion therapies.

The evangelical Christian then quit her post as an LGBT government advisor, saying:

I do not believe this Tory government, sadly, have the best wishes of the LGBT community at heart.

Instead we seem to have a Trump-esque mode of operation where they’re listening to the rightwing evangelicals …

Ozanne also said Truss and Badenoch:

Were known among the community as the ‘ministers for inequality’ because they did not understand LGBT people, particularly transgender people. There are many who fear that we are going back to the days of Thatcher, the days of Section 28.

James Morton, who has been a manager at the Scottish Trans Alliance, also resigned from the same advisory panel.

The Christian Institute then entered the fray, attacking politicians who are supporting the ban:

Ciarán Kelly, above, CI’s Deputy Director for Communications, said:

It is deeply worrying to see the level of ignorance of the beliefs and practices of mainstream Christianity on display from some of these MPs.

Of course we believe people should be protected from quack therapists and charlatan preachers. Most of these practices are already illegal and we would urge the Government to ensure the law is applied properly.

But there must also be room for the preaching of God’s Word and for believers to receive prayer and pastoral support, whatever temptations they are facing.

A pastor or church should not face prosecution if a gay man or woman attends church, comes to faith and seeks help in following Christ’s teaching on sexual ethics.

The CI singled out three MPs who argued for a ban during the debate: Elliot Colburn, Angela Eagle and Stephen Doughty.

Colburn said conversion therapy can manifest in many forms:

From pseudo-psychological treatments and aversion therapies to practices that are religiously based, such as purification or fasting.

Eagle specifically highlighted:

Prayer and being told by faith leaders or your family that you are sinful. Being told to pray harder to change and to question your innermost feelings and thoughts, none of that should be legal.

Shadow Foreign Minister Doughty, a gay Christian, included pastoral care in his concerns. He alleged it:

Could be used as a cover for some very dangerous practices.

He added that people cannot consent to conversion therapy, and argues it should be banned, even where a person seeks out spiritual support over unwanted same-sex attraction.

Tory MP Alicia Kearns, according to the CI, dismissed concerns over the impact on freedom of religious expression, quoting her as saying: