Its time to end gay cures

It's happening in France right now. Phony "gay cures" are touring 10 countries, teaching gays and lesbians to hate themselves for being who they are. This practice is so damaging it drives many to self-harm and even suicide. Starting with France this week, then moving on to the United Kingdom, we are kicking off a global domino effect to shut down these sessions and ban "gay cures" for good.

The splinter group Desert Stream has kicked off their world tour of phony "treatments" - pushing thousands of gay people to the edge. We are building the largest ever petition against these "gay cures" to be delivered to all 10 governments along the route. There is no time to lose - we are delivering the petition to the French government on Thursday - will you call on France and the governments of every tour-stop to stand against "gay cures"? 

www.allout.org/endgaycures

Last month, the father of "gay cures" denounced his own research. And the biggest pusher of this quack "ex-gay treatment" also recognized the damage caused by these fraudulent sessions. The ex-gay movement is breaking apart but one small group has split off and is ramping up this ridiculous practice. 

While sometimes these "treatments" can seem ridiculous - they cause great harm to the people exposed to them. Organizations like Desert Stream teach people to hate who they are - and that they're a failure for being unable to change that. This kind of self-loathing has life-long effects and can even lead to suicide. The World Health Organization, along with psychiatrist associations around the world, has already denounced these "treatments" as ridiculous at best and suicidal at worst. But sessions are happening in France right now, Argentina next week - with Australia, Finland, England, Lithuania, Netherlands, Philippines, Switzerland and the USA to follow. 

This is a moment of great weakness for the "ex-gay" movement - even the "father" of these so-called cures has publicly renounced his own research. If we stop Desert Stream and make it illegal for them to do more harm, we can put an end to "gay cures" everywhere.  We will be delivering these signatures straight to Health Ministers around the world to demand immediate action. 

Desert Stream is the last global group to push for these dangerous "cures". We have no time to lose - we are delivering the first petition to French officials on Thursday. Will you sign now?

www.allout.org/endgaycures

Even though Exodus - the largest group leading the extremist Christian anti-gay crusade - has recently renounced "ex-gay treatments," they haven't stopped punishing people for being who they are or funnelling money into global homophobia. Exodus, Desert Stream and their followers sell the idea that people who are not straight should stifle it - they should smother it so deeply that they don't recognize or love themselves.

Charging up to $1,200 for each "treatment" session, these groups make millions selling the idea that gay people are diseased just because of who they love. "Desert Stream" is currently selling "gay cures" in more than 30 countries.  Every reputable source has rejected this approach citing its nearly 100% failure rate and dramatic damage to self-esteem for gays and lesbians. Will you call on Health Ministers around the world to denounce and ban "gay cures"?

www.allout.org/endgaycures

Community groups and unions call for free, community-led Pride

In the aftermath of the problems that afflicted London's World Pride earlier this month, community groups and LGBT trade unionists have confirmed their support for a national Pride to be held in central London, an event that is free and accessible to all, and a celebration as well as a demand for equality.

Ninety representatives of London LGBT community groups and LGBT union representatives met at the TUC's central London headquarters last night (Monday) to debate the future of Pride London after the last minute and drastic restrictions imposed on the World Pride event.

The meeting agreed a set of principles that should apply to future Prides:

* it should be free to all participants

* it must be fully inclusive of all sections of the LGBT community

* it should be a celebration, but retain its political cutting edge and campaign for LGBT equality and liberation nationally and internationally

* it must be led by the LGBT communities themselves, not have its shape or content determined by commercial sponsors or public bodies.

A smaller meeting open to a representative of every LGBT community group and union that wishes to participate will take place in early September to allow more discussion on the principles, which will then be fed into the AGM of Pride London.

TUC LGBT officer Peter Purton said: "There was anger at the way Pride had been treated, and after debate it was clear that although differences remain, we have much common ground about the way forward. 

"The TUC is delighted to have been able to facilitate this meeting and to help develop a way forward for future Prides."