Controversial X-Factor ‘ex-gay’ film to be screened in London and Belfast this week

Feb 11, 2019 by Jill

Premiere of Once Gay: Matthew and Friends.

TIME AND DATE:
Monday 11th February, 6pm – 8.30pm.

VENUE:
The Emmanuel Centre,
9-23 Marsham Street,
London SW1P 3DW.

Photo opportunity
Monday 11 February, 11am
Malta High Commission
Malta House
36-38 Piccadilly
London W1J 0LE

THE UK PREMIERE screening of a controversial film on homosexuality, based on an ex-gay, X-Factor contestant is to be shown in London today (11FEB) and Belfast on Thursday (14FEB).

Once Gay: Matthew and Friends, is the story of Matthew Grech, an X-Factor Malta contestant who left behind his lifestyle as a gay man when he became a Christian. The film introduces Matthew, his music, friends and supporters.

The London premiere coincides with the presentation of a letter to the Maltese government objecting to the way Mr Grech was treated for sharing his ‘controversial’ testimony of leaving an active, sexual homosexual lifestyle and finding God in an interview, which was initially uploaded to X Factor Malta’s social media accounts. After public outcry in Malta, clips were deleted on the basis that they “advertised or promoted ‘gay conversion therapy”, illegal in Malta since 2016. Since then, LGBT activists have continued to try to silence him for sharing his testimony of finding God and leaving behind his former gay lifestyle.

Maltese Equalities Minister, Helena Dalli, criticised the TVM station for allowing the interview with Matthew to be broadcast, saying: “That interview should never have been aired in the first place. It did untold damage to our efforts to change social attitudes towards minorities, including LGBTQ youths. Gay youths don’t need forgiveness or healing, they need understanding.”

Read here