Latest:

03:02 Stars play charity football match
03:02 Hunt faces Leveson Inquiry grilling
02:12 Egypt candidates woo middle ground
01:22 Clinton: End Assad 'rule of murder'
00:22 Rebel groups agree on Islamic state
00:22 Saltire Games ban 'ridiculous'
00:22 Food industry experience offered
00:22 Scott: Sci fi is getting worn out

'Homophobic' conference should be condemned

Friday, 20 January 2012

Today and tomorrow, Core Issues Trust will be hosting a conference at Orangefield Presbyterian Church entitled The Lepers Among Us - Homosexuality and the Church.

We the undersigned believe the use of the term 'lepers' in this context to be inflammatory, homophobic and harmful.

We are dedicated to equality of opportunity, oppose homophobia in all its forms and believe that homophobia has a serious impact on the health and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people.

We recognise non-heterosexual sexual orientations to be as valid a sexual orientation as heterosexuality and accept sexual orientation to be assigned from birth and something that cannot be changed.

We condemn Core Issues Trust for organising the conference and believe their - and all - practice of reparative/conversion therapy to be inappropriate and potentially harmful.

In December 1998, the American Psychiatric Association rejected reparative therapy as ineffective and potentially destructive.

Their board of trustees unanimously adopted a position statement opposing reparative therapy.

The UK Council for Psychotherapy adopted a statement on reparative therapy which states 'UKCP does not consider homosexuality, or bisexuality, or transsexual and transgendered states to be pathologies, mental disorders or indicative of developmental arrest.

'These are not symptoms to be treated by psychotherapists, in the sense of attempting to change or remove them.'

We call on all like-minded people and organisations to speak out against this conference and to continue to work towards a society where all people are treated as equals, regardless of their race, age, gender, religious belief, political opinion, disability status, economic status, or sexual orientation.

Cookstown and Western Shores Area Network

Falls Women's Centre

Brook NI

East Belfast Community Development Association

East Belfast Survivors Of Suicide Support Group

East Belfast Community Counselling

Lighthouse

Compass Advocacy Network

Dunlewey Substance Advice Centre NI

Citizens Advice

Institute for Conflict Research

Council for the Homeless Northern Ireland