UK to Ban Gay Conversion Therapy' - BBC Victoria Derbyshire

A Northern Ireland-based Christian organization which counsels gay people to "move away from homosexual influences" says a new government LGBT action plan aiming to ban gay conversion therapies is "a denial of fundamental human rights".

The Core Issues Trust is headed by Ballynahinch man Mike Davidson (63), who says LGBT people "can choose not to live out homosexuality".

Mr Davidson, a father-of-two who underwent counselling for homosexuality and has been married for 38 years, provides 'sexual attraction fluidity exploration' therapy from his Co Down base.

In a statement, the Core Issues Trust said that banning therapies such as sexual attraction fluidity therapy is "a denial of fundamental human rights as laid down in the European Human Rights Convention" (EHRC) and called for "regulation over restriction or banning".

It stated: "Some clients, seeking viable and meaningful relationships with the opposite sex, find the capacity for that.

"Some wish to modify behaviours and renounce as false the identity they formerly described as 'gay'. Some are married and have children and wish to maintain the integrity of such marriages.

"Despite the fact that the UK is signed up to the EHRC, it continues to fail to protect ex-gay individuals in their right to determine their own sexual identity.

"It now appears to impose a mandatory gay trajectory for those seeking change therapy."