June 17, 2011

Gay activists used the media to condemn a conference on reparative therapy in Belfast, Ireland. The keynote speaker of the conference was California therapist David Pickup. Although gay activists got most of the press coverage, event organizer Mike Davidson was quoted defending reparative therapy for those with unwanted same-sex attractions, “I don’t think gay people would want to be involved in reparative therapy and why should they? They are happy and they are contented in the life that they feel is natural and normal for them – but surely it would be inappropriate to think that one cap fits all,” he said. “Some people are just not happy with that model and really I think it would not be equitable if we did not provide support for them.”

Here are four links to media coverage of the Belfast conference:
http://www.u.tv/News/Group-defends-gay-therapy-amid-protest/3250740e-38c3-420a-a747-66103ed4464a
http://www.u.tv/News/Protest-against-%E2%80%98gay-therapy-event/e9fa9c3a-6222-4bcd-b635-fa985d11d4a4
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/row-over-gay-conversion-conference-held-at-church-16011536.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-13760662