Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Vulnerable prisoners are saved by staff
MLA calls for ‘therapy’ ban as film gets ready for tour
SINN FEIN MLA YESTERDAY
T THE man behind a c controversial “gay cure” do documentary last night said he is planning more showings in Nort Northern Ireland.
A protest was held at Ballynahinch Baptist Church on Tuesday where Voices Of The Silenced: Experts, Evidences and Ideology was screened.
Mike Davidson, the chief executive of the Core Issues Trust which is behind the film, said there are people who want his help.
He told the Mirror, he is i n negotiations with “two or three” venues for screenings to show the film.
Mr Davidson, who previously stated he was turned away from homosexuality by counselling, prayer and psychotherapy, added: “It’s not big, there are those who are interested. I think it’s a bit daunting when there is quite a bit of reaction.
“The problem is very often there’s a reaction that doesn’t take into account having watched the film – so they don’t know what the content is.
“There are people who are unhappy with those feelings [of homosexuality] and so we would be supportive of that but of course not everybody is.”
But Sinn Fein MLA Emma Rogan, who attended the demonstration in Ballynahinch said: “There is nothing wrong with being gay, l esbian, bisexual or transgender.
“Our party totally opposes the use of ‘therapies’ which are aimed to change, repress and, or eliminate a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity and, or gender expression.
“These ‘therapies’ are damaging, extremely dangerous and can have a very damaging psychological effect on people.
“The practice of conversion therapy has been condemned and discredited worldwide by institutions such as the UN Committee Against
Torture, the European Parliament and by the Irish Council for Psychotherapy.
“To d ay my p a r ty colleague Seanadoir Fintan Warfield, launched the Prohibition of Conver- sion Therapies Bill 2018 in the South.
“Sinn Fein believes that “conversion therapies” should be banned throughout Ireland.”
In response to Ms Rogan’s comments Mr Davidson said: “Is she a psychotherapist?
“She’s entitled to her opinion but that seems like a standard reaction. “It doesn’t sound as though there was any engagement with what we were saying. It sounds li ke a dismissive comment.
“I saw the folk there. I think it’s important that people are allowed to express their point of view. “They declined an invitation to come in and watch the film.
“I think that it would be mo r e u s e f u l if that happened and we actually debated the content of the fil m rather than whether or not it should be shown.
“There is an unhappy group that has been marginalised and they want help.” STAFF at Maghaberr y Prison have saved the lives of many vulnerable prisoners.
The high-security prison’s new governor David Kennedy has said safety was one of his priorities.
He added: “The number of prisoners who are kept safe by staff on an ongoing basis through building relationships, it is impossible to measure the good that has been done.”
In 2008 the suicide of Colin Bell prompted major reforms within the Prison Service.
Mr Kennedy said: “The number of lives saved through staff relationships is unquantifiable.
“I think the staff are very proud of what they do, Every day they make a difference.”