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Cures still practiced, despite lack of evidence for success.

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• Stonewall

Experts attempt to cure gays

Monday, 6 April 2009

According to research carried out at University College London there is still a 'significant minority' of psychiatrists and therapists attempting to 'cure' their gay, lesibian or bisexual clients.

Researchers questioned more than 1,400 mental health professionals and found that 4% said they would attempt to change a client's sexual orientation if requested to do so. 17% said that they had attempted to help at least one client reduce their gay or lesbian feelings.

UCL's Professor King reported surprise that so many practitioners are still willing to 'treat' homosexuality given the lack of evidence that it is effective and that it may even be likely to cause harm. Stonewall agrees - "So-called 'gay cure therapies' are wholly discredited... What gay people need is equal treatment by society, not misguided treatment by a minority of health professionals."

The report was funded by the Wellcome Trust and is published in BMC Psychiatry.

Full article on UCL's website:
www.ucl.ac.uk/news/news-articles/0903/09032601

More information on the issue of sexual orientation 'treatments':
www.treatmentshomosexuality.org.uk

Interview with Professor Michael King on the report:
www.wellcome.ac.uk/News/Media-office/Press-releases/2009/WTX053916.htm