RTÉ recently aired the documentary “Converted”, which brought to light the reality of gay conversion therapy that is still happening in Ireland. This documentary outlined the experience of four men who have went through this form of therapy.
Gay conversion therapy is a form of treatment to change an individual’s sexuality. Most young people are persuaded by parents who don’t support their sexuality to go to these therapy sessions. Sometimes a parish priest will refer people to what they think are reputable conversion therapists.
In March 2018, Senator Fintan Warfield introduced a bill to the Irish Senate to ban conversion therapy on LGBT people. Under the proposed bill, individuals found guilty of performing conversion therapies could be fined up to 10,000 euros and face up to a year in prison.
This bill has only passed its second stage in the Seanad last year, therefore, this is still legal in Ireland. Mr Warfield said: ‘If enacted, the Bill would make it unlawful for any person to perform, offer to perform or advertise conversion therapy or to remove someone from the State for the purpose of conversion therapy.
The RTÉ documentary, which aired on October 15th, included an Irish man who underwent this therapy, a journalist undercover in a Christian group, a Christian man who supports living a chaste homosexual life and another man who provides the therapy.
Padraig O’Tuama, a man who underwent gay conversion therapy said that his co-worker in a Christian group told him that “men who had homosexual desires were like cannibals.” This continued to the point where he was warned that he would have to “fix” his sexuality. He then underwent an exorcism in the form of a prayer meeting led by a woman who attempted to cast out the demon of lust and homosexuality.
Colin White, who also refers to himself as “The man in white” sees himself as a homosexual man however he does not act on this because of his religion. He believes that other gay people can live this way.
The president of the Psychological Society of Ireland, Ian O’Grady, told the Journal.ie that “It’s disappointing that there are still questions being raised in public forums as to what the evidence for conversion therapy is when it is absolutely clear that there is no credible evidence and it should be confined to the annals of history as bad practice.”
Examples of gay conversion therapy is available in films such as “The Miseducation of Cameron Post” and “Boy Erased”.