'Gay Cure' Conference Comes to London

Next weekend London hosts a conference advocating techniques for men and women to be cured of their homosexuality. The Anglican Mainstream Organization, a group devoted to the conservative tenets of the Church of England, is holding the event, which plans to have “a special focus on how religious professionals and friends/relatives can respond biblically and pastorally to those struggling with unwanted SSA (same-sex attraction).” Despite scientific evidence suggesting human sexuality cannot be changed, attempts by religious groups and some therapists to de-homosexualize people continue. Shockingly, a recent study found that a sixth of Britain’s registered therapists and psychiatrists have attempted to cure patients of their homosexuality. The conference is deemed “ideal for clergy, rabbis, psychologists, therapists, educators and others concerned about the plethora of sexual issues confronting us in today’s society, including mentoring the sexually broken, the sexualization of culture, pornography, the Bible and sex, and marriage, the family and sex.” Notoriously anti-gay guest speakers will appear at the event, including Joseph Nicolosi, of the National Association for the Research and Therapy of Homosexuality, and Jeffrey Satinover, who is an outspoken advocate against gay civil rights based on his belief that sexual orientation is a fiction.

Nicolosi advocates and practices reparative therapy, an attempt to rehabilitate those with unwanted homosexual feelings in order to turn them into what he deems proper, upright citizens. Often this type of treatment includes aversion (shock) therapy and other outdated techniques.In a recent interview with Pink News, gay performer Peterson Toscano detailed his personal experience with reparative treatment and years of ex-gay programs. “I spent 17 years and over $30,000 on three continents attempting to de-gay myself. I attended weekly support groups, one-on-one counseling sessions, conferences, and even two years at a residential facility,” says Toscano. “Gay reparative therapy and ex-gay ministries did not alter my sexual orientation in the least.”

As Toscano addresses in the interview, some therapeutic techniques used in the ex-gay community are downright laughable. “Each program and practitioner offers a different method. One program used an altered version of the 12 Steps traditionally used in Alcoholics Anonymous. Often therapists tried to correct gender variance instructing me to be more gender conforming. They taught me how to play football, change the oil in my car, walk, sit and dress in a more straight-acting masculine way.” As for the most bizarre attempts at treatment – those would be the three exorcisms he endured.

After years of fighting who he really was, today Toscano runs Beyond Ex Gay, an online community for those who have endured the dehumanizing therapy, and speaks regularly about his struggle. While the gay community has clearly made large leaps, there is still much to be done.