'Counselling can change homosexuals'

Laura M · 06-12-2008, 04:11 PM

I couldn't believe this story when I first heard it.

A gay man in the area we live in was attacked and the wife of our First Minister, who is also an MP/MLA, was asked for her comments on a radio show. She suggested that gay people can be changed if they seek counselling and has defended her comments by saying she was "defending the word of God".

Links:

Homophobic assault victim calls for Robinson resignation - Ireland - Breaking News - Belfast Telegraph
BBC NEWS | Northern Ireland | 'Gay counselling' call rejected

Quote:

A gay rights campaigner has rejected a Northern Ireland assembly member's call for homosexuals to seek psychiatric counselling.

David McCartney from the Rainbow Project was responding to comments from Iris Robinson, who is the chair of the Stormont health committee.

Mrs Robinson said with help, gay people could be "turned around".

Mr McCartney said there was "no body of evidence" to support this and asked to meet the MP.

Mrs Robinson made her comments on BBC Radio Ulster's Nolan Show on Friday.

She said she would defend her right to express religious beliefs, while also condemning violence against the gay community.

"I have a very lovely psychiatrist who works with me in my offices and his Christian background is that he tries to help homosexuals - trying to turn away from what they are engaged in," she said.

"I'm happy to put any homosexual in touch with this gentleman and I have met people who have turned around and become heterosexuals."

What her and her husband have said: BBC NEWS | Northern Ireland | Minister defends wife in gay row. Also a video with her defending her remarks.

financeguy · 06-12-2008, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lara Mullen

I couldn't believe this story when I first heard.

Well, given that it's the Robinsons, I'm surprised that you're surprised.

Salome · 06-12-2008, 04:15 PM

that video is the most disgusting thing i've seen in ages
it disturbs me that someone who actually has a proper education manages to smile while comparing homosexuals to murderers and other sinners and tops it all off with saying that she doesn't feel she said anything wrong because it's not her opinion but "the word of God"

it's sickening

deep · 06-12-2008, 04:54 PM

"How can anyone take issue with the word of God?

We are to love the sinner, not the sin."

Irvine511 · 06-12-2008, 04:57 PM

i wonder if we could counsel heterosexuals?

the are two women i can think of who'd like to be done with men

but, dammit, they just aren't into va-jay-jay.

maybe counseling could help them?

martha · 06-12-2008, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Irvine511

maybe counseling could help them?

They should try it at least.

LJT · 06-13-2008, 04:59 AM

If anyone needs any proof of the real world consequences of comments like these, they should sit in, in one of my shifts at the Samaritans...we got quite a few calls relating directly to her comments. NI has it's own little twisted version of the bible belt.

A_Wanderer · 06-13-2008, 05:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Irvine511

i wonder if we could counsel heterosexuals?

the are two women i can think of who'd like to be done with men

but, dammit, they just aren't into va-jay-jay.

maybe counseling could help them?

Every documentary I have seen on the subject tells me it just takes some funky music.

Laura M · 06-13-2008, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LJT

If anyone needs any proof of the real world consequences of comments like these, they should sit in, in one of my shifts at the Samaritans...we got quite a few calls relating directly to her comments. NI has it's own little twisted version of the bible belt.

Alreet mucker.

How's your work there going?

martha · 06-13-2008, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A_Wanderer

Every documentary I have seen on the subject tells me it just takes some funky music.

It took me damn near 45 minutes to get this.

A_Wanderer · 06-13-2008, 08:25 AM

Don't I get a

for making jokes about porn

Irvine511 · 06-13-2008, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A_Wanderer

Every documentary I have seen on the subject tells me it just takes some funky music.

nicely done.

A_Wanderer · 06-13-2008, 09:14 AM

martha · 06-13-2008, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A_Wanderer

Don't I get a

for making jokes about porn

A_Wanderer · 06-13-2008, 09:49 AM

What am I

LJT · 06-13-2008, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lara Mullen

Alreet mucker.

How's your work there going?

It's going great...I might be abseiling down the front of the Europa hotel this next Saturday in aid of Samaritans, just need to hear back from the guy organising it.

A stor · 06-14-2008, 11:31 AM

Please correct me if I am wrong, but isn't a person basically born as being gay, straight or bisexual? That sexual preference is already predisposed? How would therapy change this?

I am a heterosexual female and all the "shrinks" in the world would not turn me gay. From a very early age, I liked males. My first crush was Paul McCartney as a little girl. No one say you have to feel this way. It was just natural for me to do so.

melon · 06-14-2008, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A stor

Please correct me if I am wrong, but isn't a person basically born as being gay, straight or bisexual? That sexual preference is already predisposed? How would therapy change this?

I am a heterosexual female and all the "shrinks" in the world would not turn me gay. From a very early age, I liked males. My first crush was Paul McCartney as a little girl. No one say you have to feel this way. It was just natural for me to do so.

There are those who think that one can choose one's sexual orientation, just as there are those who think that blacks are born criminal, women are inherently frail, and those that thought, for sure, that the world was going to end on Y2K.

In other words, there are those that will believe any sort of nonsense, contrary to the reality, because they refuse to accept that their worldview is wrong. As such, there are those who steadfastly refuse to believe that homosexuality is not a choice or a part of nature, in spite of all the evidence to the contrary (i.e., the observation of homosexuality in animals, anthropological observations of homosexuality in native tribes that had no contact with the West or missionaries, logical theories posited on the nature of genetics which are currently being pursued and confirmed, and from--you know--actually talking with gay people), and will continue forward believing in their nonsense until the day they die.

bonocrazy88 · 06-14-2008, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by melon

There are those who think that one can choose one's sexual orientation, just as there are those who think that blacks are born criminal, women are inherently frail, and those that thought, for sure, that the world was going to end on Y2K.

Funny how some people use the "nature" argument for homosexuality, as in it is predetermined before birth, but as for other things, like the ones you mentioned, they are definitely not predetermined. The essentialist argument seems to stop with homosexuality, because people are so reluctant to think that *gasp* God forbid they raised a homosexual person. I don't see the big deal. To me, sexuality should be a fluid thing and shouldn't be so one-way or the other. Yes, there is homosexuality in other groups of humans and in animals. I know some people are born knowing they are not attracted to the opposite sex and knowing from a very young age they will be homosexual. But, what about people who feel that they don't want to limit themselves to one side of sexuality, which I think has soo many factors. Humans seem to want to limit sexuality to just a small selection of boxes.

deep · 06-14-2008, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by melon

In other words, there are those that will believe any sort of nonsense, contrary to the reality, because they refuse to accept that their worldview is wrong. As such, there are those who steadfastly refuse to believe that homosexuality is not a choice or a part of nature, in spite of all the evidence to the contrary (i.e., the observation of homosexuality in animals, anthropological observations of homosexuality in native tribes that had no contact with the West or missionaries, logical theories posited on the nature of genetics which are currently being pursued and confirmed, and from--you know--actually talking with gay people), and will continue forward believing in their nonsense until the day they die.

I think part of the problem is equating any sexuality to sin.

Many view gay sex as sinful,
they think about it in the same way that they (especially straight men ) think they must choose not to act on their sexual desires.

That is, to have sex with as many young, random females as they can.

They choose not to act on their preference for these sexual activities.

They choose to control it, to be celibate, or to be monogamous, stay with the same routine sex partner.

if sexuality is sinful, then others can label some of us, sinners.

Remove the sin from sex and the "house of cards" collapses.

06-12-2008, 04:15 PM	#3
Salome you are what you is Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Netherlands Posts: 22,044 Local Time: 04:26 AM	that video is the most disgusting thing i've seen in ages it disturbs me that someone who actually has a proper education manages to smile while comparing homosexuals to murderers and other sinners and tops it all off with saying that she doesn't feel she said anything wrong because it's not her opinion but "the word of God" it's sickening __________________ “Some scientists claim that hydrogen, because it is so plentiful, is the basic building block of the universe. I dispute that. I say there is more stupidity than hydrogen, and that is the basic building block of the universe.” ~Frank Zappa

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06-12-2008, 04:54 PM	#4
deep Blue Crack Addict Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: A far distance down. Posts: 28,600 Local Time: 06:26 PM	"How can anyone take issue with the word of God? We are to love the sinner, not the sin."

06-12-2008, 04:57 PM	#5
Irvine511 Blue Crack Supplier Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 32,365 Local Time: 10:26 PM	i wonder if we could counsel heterosexuals? the are two women i can think of who'd like to be done with men but, dammit, they just aren't into va-jay-jay. maybe counseling could help them?

06-13-2008, 04:59 AM	#7
LJT Rock n' Roll Doggie VIP PASS Join Date: May 2005 Location: Belfast Posts: 5,149 Local Time: 03:26 AM	If anyone needs any proof of the real world consequences of comments like these, they should sit in, in one of my shifts at the Samaritans...we got quite a few calls relating directly to her comments. NI has it's own little twisted version of the bible belt.

06-13-2008, 08:25 AM	#11
A_Wanderer ONE love, blood, life Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: The Wild West Posts: 12,518 Local Time: 12:26 PM	Don't I get a for making jokes about porn

06-13-2008, 09:14 AM	#13
A_Wanderer ONE love, blood, life Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: The Wild West Posts: 12,518 Local Time: 12:26 PM

06-13-2008, 09:49 AM	#15
A_Wanderer ONE love, blood, life Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: The Wild West Posts: 12,518 Local Time: 12:26 PM	What am I

06-14-2008, 11:31 AM	#17
A stor Refugee Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: U.S.A. East Coast Posts: 2,464 Local Time: 02:26 AM	Please correct me if I am wrong, but isn't a person basically born as being gay, straight or bisexual? That sexual preference is already predisposed? How would therapy change this? I am a heterosexual female and all the "shrinks" in the world would not turn me gay. From a very early age, I liked males. My first crush was Paul McCartney as a little girl. No one say you have to feel this way. It was just natural for me to do so.