Patrick Strudwick

Journalist Patrick Strudwick has set up a group on Facebook protesting against organisations which say they can 'cure' people of homosexuality.

SCOTT (Stop Conversion Therapy Taskforce) was formed after Strudwick uncovered instances of  psychiatrists and psychotherapists working in the NHS who tried to 'cure' him of his homosexuality.

On his Facebook site Mr Strudwick says:
"We believe that the practise by therapists, psychiatrists and religious leaders of attempting to change a person's sexual orientation is damaging, offensive, immoral, unethical and ineffective.

"The recent expose of these sickening practises in the Independent highlights precisely why using 'therapy' to try and 'cure' gay or bisexual people or try to change the gender identity of transgender people is abhorrent. The fact that in some cases the NHS is inadvertently paying for it, is even more unacceptable.

"We call on the Royal College of Psychiatrists, the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists, the NHS, the Church of England and the British government to publicly condemn these practices and help ensure that any mental health worker found to be using conversion or aversion therapy techniques will be struck off."

To read the original investigation view:
www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/features/the-exgay-files-the-bizarre-world-of-gaytostraight-conversion-1884947.html