Dr Peter Forster bishop of Chester is reported in a local paper (The Chester Chronicle) saying Gay people should reorientate themselves as heterosexuals by seeking medical intervention.
The Revd Richard Kirker commented today:
“How often do lesbian and gay people have to put up with this offensive nonsense. If the bishop of Chester was telling black people to get their skins bleached and hair straightened to avoid racial discrimination he’d be locked up.
“Homosexuality is not a problem to lesbian and gay people it is those who think like Dr Forster who have a problem.
“Psychiatrists and doctors have long since abandoned any belief that homosexuality was an illness that could be cured. Only Christian fundamentalists devote their energies in this direction, sadly lesbian and gay people are sometimes willing to submit themselves to the brainwashing practiced by groups like this, in a desperate attempt not to be rejected.
“We are all aware that psychological conditioning can make people behave like animals, that it can also make lesbian and gay people feel more heterosexual is nothing to be celebrated. It is a violence done to people whose only fault is to crave acceptance.
“Dr Forster’s prejudices will not be solved by a visit to the doctor, and nor will lesbian and gay people go away and get “cured” to help him live with them.
“We offer our heartfelt support to all those lesbian and gay people who live in the Chester diocese and assure them that by far the majority of Anglican’s in this country do not think like their bishop.”
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