Prohibition of Conversion Therapies Bill, Ireland 2018
by Dermot O’Callaghan, Core Issues Trust:
Hard on the heels of the Irish Republic’s abortion referendum on Article 8 of the Constitution, another legislative move is underway. This is of concern to all those wishing to leave both homosexual and transsexual identities and behaviours – whether from a faith or a non-faith position.
The Prohibition of Conversion Therapies Bill (2018), imposes fines and prison sentences on any therapist seeking to help a client to diminish unwanted same-sex attraction. It says it is
An Act to prohibit conversion therapy, as a deceptive or harmful practice against a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.”
But the words ‘deceptive’ and ‘harmful’ are value judgements not based on evidence, and this statement is scientifically invalid. The best evidence we have from the American Psychological Association says, “There are no scientifically rigorous studies of recent [therapy] that would enable us to make a definitive statement as to whether [it] is safe or harmful and for whom.”
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