Britain's gay community are outraged at the news that a gay conversion conference is taking place in central London, today.
We report on the news before any other gay news service.
The touring conference, which has already taken place in Belfast, is outrageously titled The Lepers Amongst Us: Homosexuality and the Life of the Church.
Organised by The Core Issues Trust, the conference will take place at the Emmanuel Centre church, Westminster, between 10am-5.30pm and 6.30pm-8pm.
It is due to go ahead despite condemnation from community groups where the conference has been previously held, plus criticism from professional organisations declaring so-called conversion therapies as harmful.
PinkPaper.com called the Emmanuel Centre at 9am this morning to learn first-hand how they can justify hosting the conference, but we were unable to obtain a quote or speak to a staff member.
We called them again at 9.30am but could still not contact a representative. Having left a message, we are yet to hear from them but will update this story when we do.
A mission statement on the Emmanuel Centre's website says: "The Emmanuel
Centre is part of the Emmanuel Evangelical Church. Our principles are
based on Christian Values.
"The
evidence of these values come through deeds and actions. Our business
and service principles reflect our values and our professional conduct
and business dealings are truthful and always adhering to our core
principles of honesty and integrity."
Commenting on the event, which is being organised by the American-based Core Issues Trust, the British Humanist Association Head of Public Affairs, Naomi Phillips, told PinkPaper.com: "The Core Issues Trust state they wish to work with those who ‘seek to change from a “gay” lifestyle to a gender-affirming one’, however the suggestion that homosexuality is a problem in need of a ‘cure’ is deeply insulting to lesbian, gay and bisexual people, profoundly objectionable, and wrong.
"Specious claims that someone’s sexual orientation can be changed through religion or therapy lack any credible basis, and conversion therapy can prove extremely harmful, especially where vulnerable individuals are being targeted.
"These kinds of biblically-inspired attempts to change sexual orientation have been repeatedly denounced by the UK Council for Psychotherapy, the British Medical Association, and the Royal College of Psychiatrists."
Professor Andrew Samuels, Chair of the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy, told PinkPaper.com: "This isn’t about respecting religious belief or freedom of speech. Those are just smokescreens. This is really about homophobia – fear and hatred of sexual minorities – often fuelled by highly controversial readings of scripture.
"Every responsible organisation in the field of psychotherapy, counselling and mental health has expressed extreme concern at the practice of therapy intended to change sexual orientation. Such attempts are profoundly unethical, don’t work, and exploit the undeniable difficulties people from sexual minorities experience in our society. It is vital that people don’t get fooled by expressions of love and support for gays and lesbians emanating from the Core Issues Trust."