Christian therapist launches legal challenge over conversion therapy memorandum
from Christian Concern:
A Christian therapist has threatened legal action against seven UK counselling and psychotherapy bodies challenging the legality of their support for the Memorandum of Understanding on Conversion Therapy (MoU).
Supported by the Christian Legal Centre, Dr Mike Davidson, who is director of Core Issues Trust, claims that the Stonewall-endorsed MoU amounts to an ‘unlawful conspiracy’ and a ‘de facto’ ban against him studying and being accredited as a UK therapist.
Dr Davidson has sent pre-action letters to seven bodies challenging their support of the MoU: The London Centre for Psychodrama, The United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy, Pink Therapy, Association of Christian Counsellors, The Albany Trust, The Royal College of Psychiatrists and The British Psychodrama Association.
Conversion therapy memorandum
The MoU describes itself as “a joint document signed by 20 health, counselling and psychotherapy organisations which aims to end the practice of conversion therapy in the UK.” Originally published in 2015, from 2017 the definition of ‘conversion therapy’ was updated to a “term for therapy that assumes certain sexual orientations or gender identities are inferior to others and seeks to change or suppress them on that basis.”
The memorandum claims that conversion therapy is ‘unethical’, potentially harmful and is not backed by evidence. It also calls for “professionals from across the health, care and psychological professions work together” to stamp it out of the profession.
Critics of the MoU say that its definition of Conversion Therapy is unclear, its conclusions are not backed by evidence, and that it gives credence to controversial views about gender identity. The human rights concerns raised by the letter also raise questions about the government’s proposals to ban conversion therapy, which likewise may breach human rights.
Dr Davidson is claiming both direct and indirect discrimination on the grounds of his Christian belief, contrary to the Equality Act 2010 and that the MoU agreement, by breaching articles 8, 9 and 14 of the European Convention of Human Rights, is unlawful.
Christian Concern say:
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