Post by tcstephens on Feb 10, 2013 16:59:32 GMT
Hi All,
I'm writing as a member of the Hull and East Riding Labour LGBT+ Network to ask for your help with a Parliamentary paper petition we're currently circulation against gay-to-straight "conversion therapy". I sent this appeal out to your site admin, and he suggested I post it here - so here it is!
Despite the stereotype that these gay "cures" only happen in the US, conversion therapy is a real and present danger in Britain too, thanks in no small part to the grossly under-regulated nature of our psychotherapy sector, with some practicioners of gay "conversion" even getting patients forwarded to them by NHS GPs.
Our group aims to raise awareness about the true prevalence of these harmful "cures" for homosexuality in Britain in Parliament, where it is virtually never discussed, and work with MPs of all parties to get the law changed so gay cure groups can't ruin people's lives in this country. Ending it here won't just liberate LGBT people in Britain, but would send a message against intolerance around the world.
So far we've received national coverage in Pink News (see here www.pinknews.co.uk/2012/11/20/labour-mp-backs-petition-against-gay-cure-treatments/ and here www.pinknews.co.uk/2012/11/13/gay-cure-therapy-is-harmful-says-uk-government/), are working on bringing an unprecedented Early Day Motion against gay conversion into the Commons; and are also coordinating the campaign with AllOut.org to harnass Britain's share of the group's 1million members. But I'm writing to you now for help with a Parliamentary paper petition (attached), which Diana Johnson MP will be submitting to Parliament in late May this year.
Though we're a Labour Party-based group, I'll stress this is an issues-based campaign and we've enjoyed support from people from all political parties. However, we've been helped most of all by non-partisan individuals like most of you here, and organisations like Sarbat. Thankfully, they've managed to find time to pass petition sheets round offices and meetings, and forward it to other interested parties, returning any copies to our address at the bottom of the sheet (note that it doesn't even have to be a 1st class stamp).
I'm writing to ask if you could be of similar help in our campaign.
Regrettably, this petition doesn't have an electronic format. Parliament doesn't allow paper/online hybrids (see here www.hulllabourlgbt.net/blog/petitioning-a-few-questions-answered/ for some FAQs on paper petitions), and we opted for a paper petition because this, when submitted, will have a visible impact in Parliament. The submission of a big bundle of written signatures - rather than the more abstract online ones which are often circulated - will allow us to bring this cause directly to Mps' attention: once submitted, copies will be sent directly to the relevant select committees, for instance. In combination with other parliamentary initiatives our group's working on, this will hopefully ensure our politicians finally start talking about conversion and work to bring in regulations to stop it ruining people's lives.
If you can find the time to help with our petition, even if it's just 1 or 2 signatures on a sheet posted back to us, please do so.
Don't hesitate to contact me about anything at tcstephens1@gmail.com, and check out our website at www.hulllabourlgbt.net for more info.
Best Wishes,
Tom Stephens.
I'm writing as a member of the Hull and East Riding Labour LGBT+ Network to ask for your help with a Parliamentary paper petition we're currently circulation against gay-to-straight "conversion therapy". I sent this appeal out to your site admin, and he suggested I post it here - so here it is!
Despite the stereotype that these gay "cures" only happen in the US, conversion therapy is a real and present danger in Britain too, thanks in no small part to the grossly under-regulated nature of our psychotherapy sector, with some practicioners of gay "conversion" even getting patients forwarded to them by NHS GPs.
Our group aims to raise awareness about the true prevalence of these harmful "cures" for homosexuality in Britain in Parliament, where it is virtually never discussed, and work with MPs of all parties to get the law changed so gay cure groups can't ruin people's lives in this country. Ending it here won't just liberate LGBT people in Britain, but would send a message against intolerance around the world.
So far we've received national coverage in Pink News (see here www.pinknews.co.uk/2012/11/20/labour-mp-backs-petition-against-gay-cure-treatments/ and here www.pinknews.co.uk/2012/11/13/gay-cure-therapy-is-harmful-says-uk-government/), are working on bringing an unprecedented Early Day Motion against gay conversion into the Commons; and are also coordinating the campaign with AllOut.org to harnass Britain's share of the group's 1million members. But I'm writing to you now for help with a Parliamentary paper petition (attached), which Diana Johnson MP will be submitting to Parliament in late May this year.
Though we're a Labour Party-based group, I'll stress this is an issues-based campaign and we've enjoyed support from people from all political parties. However, we've been helped most of all by non-partisan individuals like most of you here, and organisations like Sarbat. Thankfully, they've managed to find time to pass petition sheets round offices and meetings, and forward it to other interested parties, returning any copies to our address at the bottom of the sheet (note that it doesn't even have to be a 1st class stamp).
I'm writing to ask if you could be of similar help in our campaign.
Regrettably, this petition doesn't have an electronic format. Parliament doesn't allow paper/online hybrids (see here www.hulllabourlgbt.net/blog/petitioning-a-few-questions-answered/ for some FAQs on paper petitions), and we opted for a paper petition because this, when submitted, will have a visible impact in Parliament. The submission of a big bundle of written signatures - rather than the more abstract online ones which are often circulated - will allow us to bring this cause directly to Mps' attention: once submitted, copies will be sent directly to the relevant select committees, for instance. In combination with other parliamentary initiatives our group's working on, this will hopefully ensure our politicians finally start talking about conversion and work to bring in regulations to stop it ruining people's lives.
If you can find the time to help with our petition, even if it's just 1 or 2 signatures on a sheet posted back to us, please do so.
Don't hesitate to contact me about anything at tcstephens1@gmail.com, and check out our website at www.hulllabourlgbt.net for more info.
Best Wishes,
Tom Stephens.
Attachments:
