MLA calls for gay ‘counselling’

The DUP MLA and MP Iris Robinson has called on homosexuals to seek counselling to help them overcome their sexuality. She was speaking on BBC Radio Ulster’s Nolan programme following an attack on a gay man in Newtownabbey. Hear her words here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7439950.stm

‘Gay counselling’ call rejected

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7439661.stm
A gay rights campaigner has rejected a Northern Ireland assembly member’s call for homosexuals to seek psychiatric counselling. David McCartney from the Rainbow Project was responding to comments from Iris Robinson, who is the chair of the Stormont health committee. Mrs Robinson said with help, gay people could be “turned around”. Mr McCartney said there was “no body of evidence” to support this and asked to meet the MP.

Mrs Robinson made her comments on BBC Radio Ulster’s Nolan Show on Friday. She said she would defend her right to express religious beliefs, while also condemning violence against the gay community.

“I have a very lovely psychiatrist who works with me in my offices and his Christian background is that he tries to help homosexuals – trying to turn away from what they are engaged in,” she said.
“I’m happy to put any homosexual in touch with this gentleman and I have met people who have turned around and become heterosexuals.”

Sinn Féin’s Education Minister Catríona Ruane said politicians should be guided by equality legislation.

“There are equality laws in the north of Ireland,” she said. “I think it is really important that politicians play a leadership role and that leadership role should be not to say anything that could possibly inflame the situation or cause further distress.”

In a statement the Royal College of Psychiatrists said that homosexuality was not a psychiatric disorder.

Cara-Friend response to Nolan Show 6th June 2008
Sticks and Stones may break my bones ….and words can too!

Cara-Friend, an organisation representing the interests of Lesbian Gay Bisexual community in Northern Ireland condemns Iris Robinson’s recent comments and calls for an end to dangerous homophobic statements from public representatives in NI.
Theresa Cullen, representative of Cara-Friend said:

‘Rights for the LGB community seem to be available for brokerage and dispute in Northern Ireland. This is unacceptable. This has to stop. The rights of LGB people are not and should not be, negotiable or traded off. The shameful behaviour of Ms Robinson needs to be named and challenged at all levels in our society. We need to stand up and be counted. We need to unequivocally outlaw homophobia as the ‘mental illness’ it is and condemn homophobic actions and words as acts of violence and hatred against a minority identity. It is time this unacceptable behaviour was stopped in our society.’
She went on to say ‘The Cara-Friend Organisation (Lesbian Line; Gay Helpline and GLYNI) has been supporting LGB people for the last 34 years saving many lives. We live the reality. Homophobia damages LGB people’s quality of life and at worst can kill. It also diminishes society as a whole. That’s why words are important. And words from a public servant can be very convincing. They are said from a public platform, therefore if the message can be construed as one of hatred, it can be a matter of life and death. As we are all too aware – words can and frequently do, hurt us’’

In 1973, the American Psychiatric Association voted to DELETE ‘homosexuality’ as a mental disorder from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-II). The DSM is the undisputed international standard of mental health classification. This was a vital change in understanding by the medical profession and it acknowledged the shift of minority sexual orientation from being pathological to homophobia being pathologised. The etiology has shifted and the origin of mental distress is rightly located in the effects of discrimination.
So where does that leave the recent comments of Iris Robinson MLA/MP on the Steven Nolan show? I quote:

‘I have a lovely psychiatrist who works with me in my offices …. I have met people who have ‘turned around’ and become heterosexual…so it does work…this is a long process…the gentleman who is a psychiatrist but more importantly is a born again Christian…has links right across the world…I’m happy to pass on any names to him!’

Theresa adds:

‘This practice, in view of the medical standards relating to mental illness, is an ‘abomination’. Ms Robinson says he does this ‘as an aside’. I hope this psychiatrist is not being paid by the NHS or Northern Ireland government as it would be against the standards of the medical profession to practice such methodology. Homophobia is often described as the ‘last acceptable prejudice’ because it is! It is so often ‘acceptable’ because minority sexual orientation is confused with and erroneously mixed up with, and reduced to, issues of sexual practice and questions of morality. This reductionism is a justification for some to be homophobic. But let me make it very clear, homophobia is plain unequivocal prejudice and discrimination against a minority – whatever way it is dressed up and whatever the so called ‘justification’.’

Theresa Cullen is a representative of Cara-Friend is available for comment and interview.
Mob no: 0777 922 6085
Email: helpline@lesbianlinebelfast.org.uk

Cara-Friend have asked the Royal College of Psychiatrists for a response to Iris Robinson’s comments on the Nolan Show.

The Royal College have issued the following press release, June 6, 2008
Royal College of Psychiatrists response to comments on Nolan Show regarding homosexuality as a mental disorder:

In light of comments made on The Nolan Show today, the Royal College of Psychiatrists wishes to clarify that homosexuality is not regarded as a psychiatric disorder.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists holds the view that lesbian, gay and bisexual people should be regarded as valued members of society who have exactly similar rights and responsibilities as all other citizens. This includes equal access to health care, the rights and responsibilities involved in a civil partnership, the rights and responsibilities involved in procreating and bringing up children, freedom to practice a religion as a lay person or religious leader, freedom from harassment or discrimination in any sphere and a right to protection from therapies that are potentially damaging, particularly those that purport to change sexual orientation.
In 1973 the American Psychiatric Association concluded there was no scientific evidence that homosexuality was a disorder and removed it from its diagnostic glossary of mental disorders. The International Classification of Diseases of the World Health Organisation followed suit in 1992.
There is now a large body of research evidence that indicates that being gay, lesbian or bisexual is compatible with normal mental health and social adjustment. However, the experiences of discrimination in society and possible rejection by friends, families and others, such as employers, means that some lesbian, gay and bisexual people experience a greater than expected prevalence of mental health and substance misuse problems.
Although there have been claims by conservative political groups in the USA that this higher prevalence of mental health difficulties is confirmation that homosexuality is itself a mental disorder, there is no evidence whatever to substantiate such a claim.

For further information contact Liz Main – lmain@nirelanddiv.rcpsych.ac.uk

gyaku_zuki’s word:

This kind of homophobia continues to plague the secularised Northern Ireland society. I find it appalling that Iris’ response to a homophobic attack was to, in my own interpretation, blame the homosexual for not receiving treatment. Backwards-minded people like her should not be in positions of power. Every decent-minded person should be calling now for her resignation (not to mention her husband for his comments a while back). What kind of ‘equality minister’ do we have?
I urge all decent people to follow suit with Sinn Fein and Alliance, and condemn these outrageous and inflammatory claims.
-Matt