• Advertise
  • Opinion
  • Features & Interviews
  • Investigation
  • Contact
Tuesday, January 19, 2021
  • Login
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
The Lagos Today
  • Home
  • News
    • Lagos News
    • National News
    • World News
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    • All
    • Art & Design
    • Books
    • Movie
    • Sports
    Dr Dre: Rap legend returns home after brain aneurysm

    Dr Dre: Rap legend returns home after brain aneurysm

    Australian Open: 47 players In quarantine after positive Covid-19 tests on two charter flights

    Australian Open: 47 players In quarantine after positive Covid-19 tests on two charter flights

    Tracy Chapman and Nicki Minaj settle copyright infringement lawsuit for $450K

    Tracy Chapman and Nicki Minaj settle copyright infringement lawsuit for $450K

    Lagos To Focus On School Sports In 2021

    Lagos To Focus On School Sports In 2021

    LEGENDARY ROCKERS KISSED 2020 GOODBYE WITH A GUINNESS WORLD RECORD™  CONCERT AT ATLANTIS, THE PALM DUBAI

    LEGENDARY ROCKERS KISSED 2020 GOODBYE WITH A GUINNESS WORLD RECORD™ CONCERT AT ATLANTIS, THE PALM DUBAI

    Nigerian Hollywood Star, Rotimi, Engages Vanessa Mdee

    Nigerian Hollywood Star, Rotimi, Engages Vanessa Mdee

    Napoli Coach to Visit Nigeria’s Osimhen Who Contacted Covid-19 After Partying in Lagos

    Napoli Coach to Visit Nigeria’s Osimhen Who Contacted Covid-19 After Partying in Lagos

    These Nigerian kids are creating epic sci-fi short films using their phones, and Hollywood is paying attention

    These Nigerian kids are creating epic sci-fi short films using their phones, and Hollywood is paying attention

    Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets Depart Lagos For Lome Ahead West African Tournament

    Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets Depart Lagos For Lome Ahead West African Tournament

  • Food
  • Features & Interviews
  • Opinion
  • Investigations
  • Sports
  • Travel
  • Home
  • News
    • Lagos News
    • National News
    • World News
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    • All
    • Art & Design
    • Books
    • Movie
    • Sports
    Dr Dre: Rap legend returns home after brain aneurysm

    Dr Dre: Rap legend returns home after brain aneurysm

    Australian Open: 47 players In quarantine after positive Covid-19 tests on two charter flights

    Australian Open: 47 players In quarantine after positive Covid-19 tests on two charter flights

    Tracy Chapman and Nicki Minaj settle copyright infringement lawsuit for $450K

    Tracy Chapman and Nicki Minaj settle copyright infringement lawsuit for $450K

    Lagos To Focus On School Sports In 2021

    Lagos To Focus On School Sports In 2021

    LEGENDARY ROCKERS KISSED 2020 GOODBYE WITH A GUINNESS WORLD RECORD™  CONCERT AT ATLANTIS, THE PALM DUBAI

    LEGENDARY ROCKERS KISSED 2020 GOODBYE WITH A GUINNESS WORLD RECORD™ CONCERT AT ATLANTIS, THE PALM DUBAI

    Nigerian Hollywood Star, Rotimi, Engages Vanessa Mdee

    Nigerian Hollywood Star, Rotimi, Engages Vanessa Mdee

    Napoli Coach to Visit Nigeria’s Osimhen Who Contacted Covid-19 After Partying in Lagos

    Napoli Coach to Visit Nigeria’s Osimhen Who Contacted Covid-19 After Partying in Lagos

    These Nigerian kids are creating epic sci-fi short films using their phones, and Hollywood is paying attention

    These Nigerian kids are creating epic sci-fi short films using their phones, and Hollywood is paying attention

    Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets Depart Lagos For Lome Ahead West African Tournament

    Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets Depart Lagos For Lome Ahead West African Tournament

  • Food
  • Features & Interviews
  • Opinion
  • Investigations
  • Sports
  • Travel
No Result
View All Result
The Lagos Today
No Result
View All Result
Home World News

Gay conversion therapy: Hundreds of religious leaders call for ban

by The Lagos Today
December 16, 2020
in World News
5 min read
0
0
Gay conversion therapy: Hundreds of religious leaders call for ban

Long-standing LGBT advocates such as Archbishop Desmond Tutu are among the signatories

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

More than 370 religious leaders from around the world are calling for a ban on conversion therapy – the attempt to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.

The signatories to the declaration represent all the world’s major faiths and many are known LGBT advocates.

They include South African cleric Archbishop Desmond Tutu and former Chief Rabbi of Ireland David Rosen.

Other religious figures said a ban could risk criminalising pastors.

A declaration calling for a ban will be launched at a conference sponsored by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) on Wednesday.

The Anglican Bishop of Liverpool, Paul Bayes, and Mary McAleese, the former president of Ireland, are also among those who have signed the declaration.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has repeated a promise to ban conversion therapy, saying in July that the practice was “absolutely abhorrent” and “has no place in this country”.

The government has yet to publish details of the ban but said it had commissioned research and would outline its plans “in due course”.

The term “conversion therapy” refers to any form of treatment or psychotherapy which aims to change a person’s sexual orientation or to suppress a person’s gender identity.

It can range from electric shock treatment to religious teachings or talking therapies designed to change someone’s sexuality.

The practice is already outlawed in Switzerland and areas of Australia, Canada and the US.

2px presentational grey line
Analysis box by Ben Hunte, LGBT correspondent

Since 2018, two UK prime ministers have promised to ban “conversion therapy but campaigners are still waiting for action.

One of the potential hold ups concerns the definition of the term “conversion therapy” and how it relates to all LGBT people.

While government figures have shown that trans people undergo conversion therapy at the highest rate of any LGBT group, some campaigners fear that any government changes could exclude conversion therapy based on gender identity and only focus on sexuality.

Others fear the changes will go too far.

One therapist, who helps people to come to terms with their transgender identity, told me they are “scared” about what the government could ban.

The therapist, who wanted to remain anonymous for fear of “losing” their career, said their work helping trans young people come to terms with their acquired gender is legal.

However, after advising young people to begin hormone treatments, the therapist has been accused of “performing conversion therapy” by some unsupportive parents.

They added: “If the government do finally ban conversion therapy, they need to be clear on what it means, because it could do more harm than good. Especially for trans healthcare.”

2px presentational grey line

‘I was terrified’

A 2018 survey of 108,000 members of the LGBT community in the UK suggested 2% have undergone the practice, with another 5% having been offered it.

Many global faiths, including Christianity, Islam and Judaism have traditionally taught that any sex outside of heterosexual marriage is wrong.

Joe Hyman, 28, grew up in an Orthodox Jewish family in north London. He says he was a teenager when he was offered conversion therapies online.

“I wanted them to fix me,” he told the BBC. “I couldn’t imagine a world where I was gay and I was Jewish. I didn’t think my family would accept me. I was terrified.”

He says he experienced talking therapies both online and in person designed to change his sexual desires.

“It left me feeling really empty, desexualised, constantly anxious and worried I wasn’t doing the right thing,” he says.

Joe Hyman
Joe Hyman, who experienced conversion therapy, said it causes clear psychological and physical damage

The declaration calls for “all attempts to change, suppress or erase a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression – commonly known as ‘conversion therapy’ – to end, and for these harmful practices to be banned.”

However, many conservative religious groups across different faiths say that a ban could infringe on religious freedom.

They are concerned that a ban would mean the government legislating what faith leaders can and cannot teach.

Peter Lynas, UK Director of the Evangelical Alliance which represents 3,000 churches in the UK, says he supports an “end [to] extreme and coercive behaviour without banning change or conversion, which are central to Christianity”.

He told the BBC a ban could risk “criminalising counsellors, pastors and even those asked to pray with people.”

‘We want to help’

Sheikh Ramzy, an Islamic scholar and founder of the Oxford Islamic Information Centre, said it was important imams were allowed to offer “help” if gay Muslims wanted to change their sexual orientation.

“We want to help them and not to damage them,” he told the BBC.

But for Joe, an immediate ban is necessary.

“I think that when religious institutions are causing clear psychological and physical damage to people that is when legislation needs to step in,” he told the BBC.

“This is a really dangerous practice. There are countless testimonies from survivors, but sadly not as many as there might be – because people have died of suicide.

“That, for me, means it is no longer a matter of religious freedom or not.”

BBC

Follow us on social media
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook

Like this:

Like Loading...
Tags: ChristianityGay Conversion TherapyIslamReligious Leaders
Previous Post

MacKenzie Scott gives away $4.2bn in four months

Next Post

Prince Harry and Meghan sign Spotify podcast deal

The Lagos Today

The Lagos Today

Related Posts

Tunisia arrests dozens as protests break out for second night

Tunisia arrests dozens as protests break out for second night

by The Lagos Today
January 18, 2021
0

Tunisian authorities say they arrested at least 240 youths as violent clashes between police and protesters broke out. Riots and...

Lee Jae Yong: Samsung heir gets prison term for bribery scandal

Lee Jae Yong: Samsung heir gets prison term for bribery scandal

by The Lagos Today
January 18, 2021
0

Samsung heir Lee Jae Yong has been sentenced to two years and six months in prison by a high court...

Next Post
Prince Harry and Meghan sign Spotify podcast deal

Prince Harry and Meghan sign Spotify podcast deal

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recommended

Lagos State Calls for Children’s Day Celebration-SDG Song Challenge

200 Vulnerable Children Benefits from Lagos Empowerment

4 months ago
Bobi Wine: At least three dead as protests follow arrest of Ugandan presidential candidate

Bobi Wine: At least three dead as protests follow arrest of Ugandan presidential candidate

2 months ago

Popular News

    Newsletter

    Connect with us

    Tags

    #EndSARS #EndSARS Protests ACCIDENT CBN Child abuse China coronavirus Coronavirus pandemic Covid-19 Covid-19 in Lagos Covid-19 in Nigeria Covid-19 Vaccine Covid-19 Worldwide CP Hakeem Odumosu Donald Trump Federal Government Fraud Gov. Sanwo-Olu Gov Sanwo-olu India Joe Biden Lagos Lagos police Lagos Police command Lagos State Government Lagos State House of Assembly Lagos State Police command LASEMA LASTMA Latest jobs in lagos Lekki Tollgate Shooting Muhammadu Buhari Murder NCDC Nigeria Rape Russia SARS Sexual Abuse Strike action Third mainland Bridge UK Unilag US WHO

    News

    • Business
    • National
    • Politics
    • Tech

    Opinion

    • Editorials
    • Today’s Opinion
    • Letters
    • Sunday Review
    • Advertise
    • Opinion
    • Features & Interviews
    • Investigation
    • Contact

    © 2020 The Lagos Today - Nkali.

    No Result
    View All Result
    • Home
    • Lagos News
    • Business
    • National News
    • Entertainment
    • Feature & Interviews
    • Food
    • Health
      • National News
    • Sports
    • Travel
    • Opinion
    • World News
    • Investigation

    © 2020 The Lagos Today - Nkali.

    Welcome Back!

    Login to your account below

    Forgotten Password?

    Create New Account!

    Fill the forms bellow to register

    All fields are required. Log In

    Retrieve your password

    Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

    Log In
    %d bloggers like this: