A one day conference, ‘Setting Love in Order’, was held on January 16 in London, jointly organised by Core Issues Trust and Christian Concern.
It was in response to a Bill currently before Parliament (the Counsellors and Psychotherapists (Regulation) Bill) which calls for a code of ethics to be introduced prohibiting ‘gay to straight conversion therapy’. Christian therapists are very concerned.
Based on ideology
The conference started with a debate between the Rt Hon Geraint Davies, MP, who introduced the Bill in Parliament, and Dr Mike Davidson, Director of Core Issues Trust. Mr Davies spoke from the premise that there is no need for gay conversion therapy, there is no evidence of it’s success, and it causes trauma to vulnerable clients. Mr Davidson responded by agreeing on the need for effective regulation of therapists working in this area, but argued that choices made by clients must be of paramount significance and that the Bill is based on ideology alone.
