Fifty equality supporters in Northern Ireland picketed a gay and
lesbian conversion therapy conference, yesterday.
The controversial event - which focused around Californian
therapist David Pickup - was organised by Christian group Core
Issues Trust and held in Belfast's Belvoir Church of Ireland.
According to Mike Davidson, Core Issues Trust co-director, that
particular form of therapy examines trauma in individuals' lives
that "may have led them to developing homosexual feelings."
John O'Doherty, director of gay advocacy group the Rainbow
Project,said such assertions were dangerous.
He told local paper the News Letter: "The aim of our protest is
to educate people attending the conference on what RT is and how
dangerous it is. There is no medical association in the world that
recognises RT as a positive choice and that would agree with Mr
Pickup's claims that homosexuality can be repaired.
"We know people who have been through this experience and have
had serious mental health problems as a result, as well as
difficulty forming future relationships."
