...to froth at this homophobic "Conference" being allowed to tour the UK?

[Bossybritches22]

OK re-posted from a less busy section but advised to post here as it'll get more reaction/support, my first AIBU so be gentle with me!

I'm so <img loading="lazy" class="inline-flex mumsnet-emoji" alt="Sad" src="https://www.mumsnet.com/build/assets/sad-q5SIe0Cq.png"> and cross I can hardly type, but here's the gist. 

<a class="break-all" href="http://www.humanism.org.uk/news/view/973" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">How can this happen in London 2012??</a>

It slipped under the radar as the press didn't get hold of it until after 9am yesterday and the "conference" was scheduled for yesterday afternoon and evening. It has been touring the UK I'm trying to find out where it is going next.

 They believe being gay is a malignancy and can be "cured"

I believe in the past US churches have been banned from coming here and spreading their bigotry  so should this one have been?

It has been pointed out to me that some of the exisiting churches in the UK are just as homophobic, in their own way.However I do think, gradually, there are more that are accepting of gay church members, I know we have a long way to go yet but tolerating this particular brand is particularly abhorrent to me. 
Thanks for reading this.

I'm sorry that it offended you so much that I mentioned my sexuality.

I'll make sure I never do so again in your presence.

PS Did I mention I'm bisexual? My life is a 24 hour orgy. It's fucking brilliant and you will never understand how special and amazing I am because of it.

I really dont care, I just think that your opinion counts as much as anyone elses, the playing of the bi card is just pants. I dont care you are bi sexual, in the same way you don't give a flying fuck about me. I don't think your POV should hold more weight, that is all. Really fed up with people playing all these cards to get their own way.

Where did I say my point of view held more weight? You really are reading things that aren't there.

Just to let you know, when someone says "playing the x card", they tend to look a bit racist/homophobic - just thought you might want to know for future reference.

I seem to have touched a nerve with you, so I'll let you get on with your evening.

"Message deleted by Mumsnet."

Well, well, well OldMumsy, looks like your freedom of speech is being curtailed. I'd protest immediately if I were you.

Just popped back because I couldn't resist the irony

Freedom of speech doesn't extend to personally abusing people.

Which is unfortunate for poor OldMumsy.

There is no free speech on MumsNet.

I know, it's like a totalitarian regime round here, isn't it?

It would be much nicer if we could all just have a go willy-nilly.

Well I popped back for a catch-up but it's descended into a bitch- session so maybe we should try and focus on my original post?

Bisexuality sounds glamorous, but if people knew about all the paperwork that goes with it...

It's weird, isn't it TiggyD that people seem to see bisexuality as some kind of glamourous lifestyle choice.

I'm currently sitting here in my towelling dressing gown watching my parnter play Skyrim and thinking about a cup of hot chocolate.

It's not all crazy threesomes and being super duper special.

I'm doing doing a risk assessment for some bumsex I've got planned for next week. If it gets too cold I'll have to cancel. Or put out some cones.

Skyrim?

Is that some sort of internet-connected anal rimming?

OldMumsy, you really owe yellowraincoat an apology. But I'm guessing she's not going to get one...

Exactly, rshipstuff. It's disgusting .

I doubt it too, ReneeVivien, but to be honest, I'm used to people having bad reactions to talking about bisexuality. It's always the same BS, every time.

yellowraincoat, I've been an out lesbian for nearly 30 years, and in that time the way people talk about lesbians and gays has changed enormously. The way people talk about bisexuals? Not so much.

All sympathies.

It's crap, isn't it?

The most common one is "that's hot" by idiot men or "you're not REALLY though" or "so what?"

Yes, the rather aggressive 'so what?' or 'well, I think everyone's bisexual' is just a cloaked way of saying, 'Don't you try to get brownie points by claiming a sexual identity that may be just about being straight but fancying Angelina Jolie'.

Whereas actually you're just saying, "This is me'. But some people don't allow that, they can't see it as anything other than a political declaration.

The church's literature has obviously been written by a lawyer who kept a very careful eye on UK legislation.

From what has been said on here and in the press there is nothing illegal about their aims or publicity therefore anyone on MN who calls for them to be banned or deported is quite wrong.

Free speech / opinion means precisely that.

Written by a lawyer pendeen??? I quoted from the book above, which is presumably sold almost exclusively in the US, and it clearly doesn't express any anti-gay hate, so they've not toned it down for the UK.

The line employed by most evangelical Christians is 'love the sinner, hate the sin'. Which is perfectly legal and does not require any lawyers to be expressed in the UK.

If you say nasty things outside the UK, you can get banned from entry: www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12231832

" If you say nasty things contrary to UK law outside the UK, you can get banned from entry "

Slight correction

It really depends what you mean by "wrong", altinkum. "Wrong" is an entirely relative term.

Personally, I do think it's wrong to dislike gay people and I wouldn't want to talk to anyone who felt like that.

"Personally, I do think it's wrong to dislike gay people and I wouldn't want to talk to anyone who felt like that."

Prejudices like this are usually a good indication that people are arseholes in lots of other ways too so I wouldn't want to talk to them either most likely.

In 2009 the group which ran the event described by the op held a similar event at the Emmanuel Centre. The 2009 event was a 'gay cure' event and attended by the notorious Joseph Nicolosi (google him!)

The 2009 event was co-sponsored by a registered Charity (CARE). See the flier and note the CARE logo:
3.bp.blogspot.com/_eLIGL3pgjfE/SfH5Q6S8yHI/AAAAAAAAAUo/z_ucVrKTZgI/s1600/sexinthecity.jpg.jpeg

This is the same organisation that has recently launched a body to advise and provide information to parents, teachers and school leaders about sex and relationship education;

www.care.org.uk/news/sex-and-relationships-education-council-launched-in-parliament-this-week

What makes this important is that this is a registered charity, not any old group with a grudge. They also have a parliamentary intern programme from which 18 MPs have benefitted since the 'gay cure' event took place.

My own view is that it is not appropriate for a registered charity which seeks to promote a sex education message to parents and school leaders, should also have co-sponsored a gay cure event, because the accepted medical view (from the Royal College of Psychiatrists) is that to suggest homosexuality can be cured is to create an environment in which discrimination can flourish.

I am not permitted due to group rules to post a link to the online petition I have made about this, but it's on change.org and search gay cure if you're interested!