Homosexuals are not ‘born gay’ according to a statement issued in late May by the Royal College of Psychiatrists: they now consider, what they previously denied, that the causes are ‘a combination of biological and postnatal environmental factors’.
This is being seen as a major admission as it implies that if a child does not encounter such postnatal life experiences, s/he will grow up heterosexual.
The College has also modified its view on whether orientation can change. ‘It is not the case that sexual orientation is immutable or might not vary to some extent in a person’s life. [Bisexuals have] a degree of choice.’
If such change is possible, the College has yet to explain why this might not take place in therapeutic contexts. Indeed the College supports current legislative efforts before Parliament to ban therapy for people who want help reducing same sex desires. They imply that such therapy does not work, though a report by the American Psychological Association to which they appeal said: ‘There is little in the way of credible evidence that could clarify whether [therapy] does or does not work.’
Core Issues Trust plans to continue to challenge aspects of the Royal College’s statement, together with the College’s support of the UK Council for Psychotherapy’s ‘Conversion Therapy Consensus Statement’.
