1 00:00:01,345 --> 00:00:05,378 Well good evening, and thank you very much, Vice Chancellor. 2 00:00:05,378 --> 00:00:10,084 I'm incredibly grateful to you and the university and of course to 3 00:00:10,084 --> 00:00:14,957 the university's LGBTI advisory group for inviting me here to speak. 4 00:00:14,957 --> 00:00:20,165 And thus enabling me to shine a spotlight on what has to be one of the areas of 5 00:00:20,165 --> 00:00:25,877 gravest concerns still today for the LGBTI community and its allies here in the UK. 6 00:00:25,877 --> 00:00:27,053 I speak, of course, 7 00:00:27,053 --> 00:00:32,346 of what is often seen as the toxic intersection between faith and sexuality. 8 00:00:32,346 --> 00:00:36,630 And of those who sadly are caught, through no fault of their own, 9 00:00:36,630 --> 00:00:41,839 in what is now finally being understood to be the, at times, deadly crossfire. 10 00:00:41,839 --> 00:00:45,703 I recognize that these are strong and emotive words, but 11 00:00:45,703 --> 00:00:47,719 Oxford is no stranger to that. 12 00:00:47,719 --> 00:00:52,507 Indeed, I can think of no better place to speak out about the evils that 13 00:00:52,507 --> 00:00:55,700 continue to traumatize so many of us, even here, 14 00:00:55,700 --> 00:00:59,397 in one of the most progressive societies in the world. 15 00:00:59,397 --> 00:01:02,841 And to call for a new resolve to champion our cause. 16 00:01:02,841 --> 00:01:06,705 For surely, that is what LGBTI history month is all about. 17 00:01:06,705 --> 00:01:11,494 It's a timely opportunity for us to reflect on the pain endured by so 18 00:01:11,494 --> 00:01:12,586 many for so long. 19 00:01:12,586 --> 00:01:14,014 Which, as I will share, 20 00:01:14,014 --> 00:01:18,382 is still affecting thousands who remain hidden in plain sight. 21 00:01:18,382 --> 00:01:21,238 I speak, of course, of LGBTI people of faith. 22 00:01:21,238 --> 00:01:26,699 Those who found themselves born into families and cultures where an integral 23 00:01:26,699 --> 00:01:31,908 part of their Innate human identity is viewed as unacceptable by everyone. 24 00:01:31,908 --> 00:01:36,192 And I mean everyone around them, their families, their friends, 25 00:01:36,192 --> 00:01:41,737 their religious leaders, their religious communities and by default, their God. 26 00:01:41,737 --> 00:01:46,693 For those who have been taught in religious schools, many will find that, 27 00:01:46,693 --> 00:01:49,129 too, a place of prejudice and trauma. 28 00:01:49,129 --> 00:01:54,170 For they lived in bubbles that are hermetically sealed, where there is no 29 00:01:54,170 --> 00:01:59,294 emergency exit, no matter how hard they pray or how much they plead with God. 30 00:01:59,294 --> 00:02:04,839 They exist in a real-life version of the Escape Room, the ultimate horror movie. 31 00:02:04,839 --> 00:02:07,191 Where all the doors are locked, and 32 00:02:07,191 --> 00:02:11,475 there is no secret hidden key that can bring them out to safety. 33 00:02:11,475 --> 00:02:16,263 They are forever trapped, and what is worse this nightmare situation 34 00:02:16,263 --> 00:02:19,707 is faced by those who are least able to cope with it. 35 00:02:19,707 --> 00:02:21,303 Young people, children, 36 00:02:21,303 --> 00:02:26,261 even, who are just learning what it is to experience love and attraction. 37 00:02:26,261 --> 00:02:30,965 Teenagers who have surges of hormones and questions and doubts and 38 00:02:30,965 --> 00:02:33,653 fears, and yet no one they can turn to for 39 00:02:33,653 --> 00:02:38,274 help and, support not without risking losing everything they have. 40 00:02:38,274 --> 00:02:39,702 Be under no illusion. 41 00:02:39,702 --> 00:02:44,994 The scarring that the stars at the start of a young person's life is immense. 42 00:02:44,994 --> 00:02:49,532 Please don't underestimate the trauma that is associated with 43 00:02:49,532 --> 00:02:53,564 having to navigate such a difficult and costly path alone. 44 00:02:53,564 --> 00:02:58,857 Where your whole world, everywhere, everyone you know and hold dear embraces 45 00:02:58,857 --> 00:03:03,982 the same united belief, expressed in love, that who you are is unacceptable. 46 00:03:03,982 --> 00:03:04,906 What's more, 47 00:03:04,906 --> 00:03:09,946 you know that the secret you carry will cause great pain to those you love. 48 00:03:09,946 --> 00:03:14,063 And that ultimately those you turn to for help, if you ever do, 49 00:03:14,063 --> 00:03:19,271 will strongly urge you to do anything but embrace and celebrate who you are. 50 00:03:19,271 --> 00:03:24,395 And the truth is, in all honesty, that there are those who just don't make it. 51 00:03:24,395 --> 00:03:27,419 There are those who find it all just too much. 52 00:03:27,419 --> 00:03:33,047 But the energy required to keep going, to keep putting one foot in front of another, 53 00:03:33,047 --> 00:03:37,753 day by long day, with no remittance is completely beyond their grasp. 54 00:03:37,753 --> 00:03:40,861 And so they take the only way out they know, and 55 00:03:40,861 --> 00:03:43,549 many of us here know some of them by name. 56 00:03:43,549 --> 00:03:45,901 And mark my words, they will be more. 57 00:03:45,901 --> 00:03:50,941 Right now in Britain, there are young kids suffering alone and terrified, 58 00:03:50,941 --> 00:03:56,065 in a country which prides itself as being at the forefront of LGBTI rights. 59 00:03:56,065 --> 00:04:01,021 There is still one large hill to climb, which has been left untouched for 60 00:04:01,021 --> 00:04:01,861 far too long. 61 00:04:01,861 --> 00:04:06,315 It is deemed the impenetrable or impossible mountain trail, but 62 00:04:06,315 --> 00:04:10,683 conquer it we must for the sake of those whose lives depend on it. 63 00:04:10,683 --> 00:04:12,280 You think I exaggerate? 64 00:04:12,280 --> 00:04:17,575 I'm aware I've been accused of weaponizing, safeguarding, or emotionally 65 00:04:17,575 --> 00:04:22,616 blackmailing people to get them to side of my own so called liberal views. 66 00:04:22,616 --> 00:04:25,640 Come on, Jane, things really aren't that bad. 67 00:04:25,640 --> 00:04:27,068 This isn't America. 68 00:04:27,068 --> 00:04:29,504 I've lost, thank goodness for that. 69 00:04:29,504 --> 00:04:34,208 I've lost count of the times this week that I've been contacted by 70 00:04:34,208 --> 00:04:39,166 journalists waiting to do stories on conversion therapy here in the UK. 71 00:04:39,166 --> 00:04:41,266 The request is always the same. 72 00:04:41,266 --> 00:04:44,206 Jane, I want to profile some of your victims. 73 00:04:44,206 --> 00:04:45,970 I want to tell their story. 74 00:04:45,970 --> 00:04:50,758 I really didn't think that this sort of thing was happening in the UK. 75 00:04:50,758 --> 00:04:55,128 I thought it was just in the far-right evangelical movements 76 00:04:55,128 --> 00:04:57,480 in the United States and in Africa. 77 00:04:57,480 --> 00:05:00,672 And then I have to ask them, why do you think that? 78 00:05:00,672 --> 00:05:04,788 Aren't they aware that there are those views over here too? 79 00:05:04,788 --> 00:05:10,080 They've always been here, that we Brits are just as bad, the religious rights 80 00:05:10,080 --> 00:05:14,953 influences are just as strong, although perhaps slightly more hidden. 81 00:05:14,953 --> 00:05:19,489 I then have to explain that no, I can't put them in touch with young 82 00:05:19,489 --> 00:05:22,934 people who've been through conversion therapy, 83 00:05:22,934 --> 00:05:27,302 as most I know are just too fragile to be able to talk to the media. 84 00:05:27,302 --> 00:05:32,090 But because of what they've been through, most are suffering severe 85 00:05:32,090 --> 00:05:36,122 mental health issues and can't cope with any more stress. 86 00:05:36,122 --> 00:05:41,330 Added to which, most have already been rejected by their family and friends 87 00:05:41,330 --> 00:05:47,126 after coming out, normally after finally admitting that therapy just didn't work. 88 00:05:47,126 --> 00:05:51,326 And yet, if they dared admit to having undergone such therapy, 89 00:05:51,326 --> 00:05:55,947 they will put themselves at risk of further rejection by their new 90 00:05:55,947 --> 00:05:59,139 LGBTI friends who will think that they are mad. 91 00:05:59,139 --> 00:06:04,095 It's why the story has been hidden for so long, as the media have found it 92 00:06:04,095 --> 00:06:08,800 impossible to get the case studies they need to sell their papers or 93 00:06:08,800 --> 00:06:10,900 achieve high viewing figures. 94 00:06:10,900 --> 00:06:11,824 But I digress. 95 00:06:11,824 --> 00:06:14,932 Young lives are at risk, seriously at risk, and 96 00:06:14,932 --> 00:06:19,384 we need to take urgent action to recognize this and protect them. 97 00:06:19,384 --> 00:06:24,090 The faith communities have shown themselves totally incapable of 98 00:06:24,090 --> 00:06:26,190 taking this matter seriously. 99 00:06:26,190 --> 00:06:29,802 If anything, they've sought to willfully ignore it. 100 00:06:29,802 --> 00:06:33,835 And have consistently looked to sweep it under the carpet. 101 00:06:33,835 --> 00:06:36,860 This happens with all inconvenient truths. 102 00:06:36,860 --> 00:06:42,236 Many within the Church of England, for instance, would rather not rock the boat. 103 00:06:42,236 --> 00:06:45,008 For there is, we're told, so much at stake, 104 00:06:45,008 --> 00:06:48,452 such as the very future of the Anglican Communion. 105 00:06:48,452 --> 00:06:53,240 Heaven forbid that the lives of young teenagers should get in the way. 106 00:06:53,240 --> 00:06:55,592 How many lives is it worth, I wonder? 107 00:06:55,592 --> 00:06:57,860 Seriously, one, two, five, a hundred? 108 00:06:57,860 --> 00:07:02,732 I seem to remember Jesus himself telling a story about a lost sheep and 109 00:07:02,732 --> 00:07:07,184 the shepherd leaving the entire flock to rescue that one at risk. 110 00:07:07,184 --> 00:07:11,720 But no, evidently, unity of the body of Christ is far more important. 111 00:07:11,720 --> 00:07:17,180 We will, therefore, I'm afraid, need to look to far more robust measures from our 112 00:07:17,180 --> 00:07:22,810 government to deal with this, which they have fortunately publicly committed to. 113 00:07:22,810 --> 00:07:27,178 So ladies and gentlemen, tonight I would like to do three things. 114 00:07:27,178 --> 00:07:32,218 Firstly, I'd like to outline the robust evidence we now have that proves 115 00:07:32,218 --> 00:07:37,429 incontrovertibly that this is a significant current safeguarding issue. 116 00:07:37,429 --> 00:07:41,882 Secondly, I want to share with you what those who have previously 117 00:07:41,882 --> 00:07:44,906 suffered would like to see happen in future. 118 00:07:44,906 --> 00:07:49,946 And thirdly, I'd like to offer some thoughts about what the barriers and 119 00:07:49,946 --> 00:07:55,910 excuses will be from various quarters that risk stopping this issue being addressed. 120 00:07:55,910 --> 00:08:00,112 Even in institutions, dare I say, such as this very University, 121 00:08:00,112 --> 00:08:02,800 which I'm afraid itself is not exempt. 122 00:08:02,800 --> 00:08:04,480 So firstly, the evidence. 123 00:08:04,480 --> 00:08:08,681 Last year, my foundation ran the first national faith survey. 124 00:08:08,681 --> 00:08:12,293 Now, this is where I have to see if I can get this to work. 125 00:08:12,293 --> 00:08:14,057 I have got some printouts, 126 00:08:14,057 --> 00:08:18,173 one page printouts of some of the data I'm about to show you. 127 00:08:18,173 --> 00:08:22,037 It's a summary, and it links you online to all the data, so 128 00:08:22,037 --> 00:08:24,473 you may not want to scribble anyway. 129 00:08:24,473 --> 00:08:28,001 But just so you know, there is a handout if you need it. 130 00:08:28,001 --> 00:08:31,697 So the National Faith and Sexuality Survey examined 131 00:08:31,697 --> 00:08:36,066 the role religious belief has on people's understanding and 132 00:08:36,066 --> 00:08:39,932 their acceptance of their sexual orientation in the UK. 133 00:08:39,932 --> 00:08:42,536 It was the first survey of its kind, and 134 00:08:42,536 --> 00:08:47,157 was open to all individuals over 16 currently resident in the UK. 135 00:08:47,157 --> 00:08:52,115 Participants came from all ages, sexualities, and racial ethnic groups, 136 00:08:52,115 --> 00:08:56,483 and had a variety of beliefs, including those who have no belief. 137 00:08:56,483 --> 00:08:59,927 Indeed, I went out of my way to work with Humanist UK 138 00:08:59,927 --> 00:09:04,632 to ensure we captured the views of those who they call appo-states. 139 00:09:04,632 --> 00:09:07,908 Sorry, apostates, who have rejected their faith, 140 00:09:07,908 --> 00:09:13,538 often because of the difficulties they've experienced over sexuality issues. 141 00:09:13,538 --> 00:09:18,494 That said, the survey primarily attracted responses from those who had 142 00:09:18,494 --> 00:09:24,123 a Christian faith background, despite our best efforts to appeal to other faiths. 143 00:09:24,123 --> 00:09:27,567 It's also important to note that whilst primary 144 00:09:27,567 --> 00:09:30,171 focus of this survey was on sexuality, 145 00:09:30,171 --> 00:09:35,717 2% of respondents identified as a gender different to that assigned at birth. 146 00:09:35,717 --> 00:09:41,514 The project was overseen by an influential advisory board which consisted of some 147 00:09:41,514 --> 00:09:47,229 of the most senior statistical, religious, and healthcare professionals in the UK. 148 00:09:47,229 --> 00:09:49,498 Such as the Bishop of Manchester, 149 00:09:49,498 --> 00:09:54,791 who is the lead bishop on statistical research within the Church of England. 150 00:09:54,791 --> 00:09:57,983 And Professor Sir Bernard Silverman, a former 151 00:09:57,983 --> 00:10:02,688 president of the Royal Statistical Society, and a revered academic. 152 00:10:02,688 --> 00:10:07,644 In that sense, we put ourselves through an internal peer review process. 153 00:10:07,644 --> 00:10:12,768 Indeed, Professor Bernard Silverman has gone on the record himself to say, 154 00:10:12,768 --> 00:10:17,473 the processes which the Ozanne Foundation put in place to this work. 155 00:10:17,473 --> 00:10:20,245 And the way in which they worked with and 156 00:10:20,245 --> 00:10:25,454 consulted the independent advisory board mean that in my view, this survey 157 00:10:25,454 --> 00:10:30,831 should definitely be regarded as having received full peer review scrutiny. 158 00:10:30,831 --> 00:10:34,779 The survey was created using Survey Monkey software and 159 00:10:34,779 --> 00:10:37,635 was made available through social media. 160 00:10:37,635 --> 00:10:42,593 Indeed, it was publicized in the same way that the government publicize 161 00:10:42,593 --> 00:10:45,701 their own national LGBTI survey in 2017. 162 00:10:45,701 --> 00:10:50,322 I'm grateful to organizations such as Stonewall, Peter Tatchell, 163 00:10:50,322 --> 00:10:55,698 the LBTI press, the Christian media, and the national media for covering it, and 164 00:10:55,698 --> 00:11:01,077 for the hundreds of other individuals and organizations that publicized it. 165 00:11:01,077 --> 00:11:03,177 Just out of interest actually, 166 00:11:03,177 --> 00:11:08,133 how many people in this room actually took part in this or was aware of it? 167 00:11:08,133 --> 00:11:10,485 I've got one at the back, okay, well, 168 00:11:10,485 --> 00:11:15,105 it shows that it was a awful lot more, but well, we still had quite a few. 169 00:11:15,105 --> 00:11:19,727 We doubled our completion target, with over 4,600 responses. 170 00:11:19,727 --> 00:11:24,012 Which just under half identified, this is the right hand chart, 171 00:11:24,012 --> 00:11:29,304 I'm conscious that some of these figures are going to be quite small on this, 172 00:11:29,304 --> 00:11:34,344 but you'll get an idea of the bar that's pointing out ahead of the other. 173 00:11:34,344 --> 00:11:37,789 So on the right hand side, 44.5%, about 45%, 174 00:11:37,789 --> 00:11:41,319 sorry had identified as heterosexual or straight. 175 00:11:41,319 --> 00:11:46,949 Everyone else identified across the sexual minority groups, 2,300 of them. 176 00:11:46,949 --> 00:11:51,737 Asexual, bisexual, gay, lesbian, queer, pansexual or same sex attracted. 177 00:11:51,737 --> 00:11:56,526 On this last point, I was keen to ensure that those who call themselves 178 00:11:56,526 --> 00:12:00,812 same sex attracted felt comfortable with the questionnaire. 179 00:12:00,812 --> 00:12:05,350 These are typically conservative Christians who don't want to 180 00:12:05,350 --> 00:12:08,291 identify themselves as gay or lesbian, but 181 00:12:08,291 --> 00:12:12,073 would rather say they experience same sex attraction. 182 00:12:12,073 --> 00:12:16,021 And as such, believe that they must be celibate for life or 183 00:12:16,021 --> 00:12:18,373 marry someone of the opposite sex. 184 00:12:18,373 --> 00:12:23,163 I therefore invited a coordinator from their support organization, 185 00:12:23,163 --> 00:12:25,936 Living Out, to review the questionnaire. 186 00:12:25,936 --> 00:12:31,733 And I am grateful to the Reverend Dr. Sean Dockerty for his constructive comments. 187 00:12:31,733 --> 00:12:33,834 All of which I implemented, and 188 00:12:33,834 --> 00:12:38,287 which resulted in 57 same-sex attracted people responding. 189 00:12:38,287 --> 00:12:42,487 We didn't hide the fact in the Executive Report that this is, 190 00:12:42,487 --> 00:12:46,101 by definition, a self selected group of respondents. 191 00:12:46,101 --> 00:12:50,470 Indeed, it would have been impossible to do anything otherwise, 192 00:12:50,470 --> 00:12:55,259 as randomly surveying the entire population would not yield a large 193 00:12:55,259 --> 00:12:58,788 sample of the particular LGBTI groups of interest. 194 00:12:58,788 --> 00:13:03,409 We are, however, able to compare the profile of the respondents with 195 00:13:03,409 --> 00:13:05,341 typical ONS and census data. 196 00:13:05,341 --> 00:13:10,131 And we therefore recognized up front in our report that respondents 197 00:13:10,131 --> 00:13:13,576 aged 35 to 64 were slightly overrepresented, 198 00:13:13,576 --> 00:13:17,945 while those aged 16 to 24 were slightly underrepresented. 199 00:13:17,945 --> 00:13:22,399 Those aged 65 and over were significantly underrepresented, 200 00:13:22,399 --> 00:13:27,188 perhaps not surprisingly, given that this was all carried out online. 201 00:13:27,188 --> 00:13:32,734 Respondents in England were also slightly overrepresented compared to Wales, 202 00:13:32,734 --> 00:13:34,918 Scotland, and Northern Ireland. 203 00:13:34,918 --> 00:13:39,202 And despite our best efforts to reach minority ethnic groups, 204 00:13:39,202 --> 00:13:42,816 white respondents were somewhat overrepresented. 205 00:13:42,816 --> 00:13:46,092 While those from black, black British, Asian, and 206 00:13:46,092 --> 00:13:49,706 Asian British backgrounds were underrepresented. 207 00:13:49,706 --> 00:13:53,824 This was disappointing, but not entirely unexpected given 208 00:13:53,824 --> 00:13:58,782 the tremendous difficulties of the LGBTI community in those cultures, 209 00:13:58,782 --> 00:14:02,564 and the significant risks associated with being open. 210 00:14:02,564 --> 00:14:07,858 Even in a survey where the respondents were promised full confidentiality. 211 00:14:07,858 --> 00:14:13,487 One of our recommendations within the report is to highlight the urgent need for 212 00:14:13,487 --> 00:14:16,343 more research into this specific area so 213 00:14:16,343 --> 00:14:19,283 that their voices can be more easily heard. 214 00:14:19,283 --> 00:14:23,231 And the results are shocking, even to someone like myself, 215 00:14:23,231 --> 00:14:27,683 who has been heavily involved in pastoring the LGBTI community. 216 00:14:27,683 --> 00:14:32,807 I must admit, I wasn't prepared for the scale of the harm that we uncovered. 217 00:14:32,807 --> 00:14:38,016 And perhaps even more shockingly, the age at which this was being inflicted. 218 00:14:38,016 --> 00:14:42,889 What is more, to learn that 22 people, that's the highlighted yellow 219 00:14:42,889 --> 00:14:46,921 box at the bottom, who had the courage to fill out the survey, 220 00:14:46,921 --> 00:14:52,381 had been subjected to forced sexual activity with someone of the opposite sex. 221 00:14:52,381 --> 00:14:53,221 That is rape. 222 00:14:53,221 --> 00:14:59,018 And they've gone through that in order to try and change their sexual orientation, 223 00:14:59,018 --> 00:15:02,900 with one person currently aged under 24. 224 00:15:02,900 --> 00:15:04,549 This made me stop and weep. 225 00:15:04,549 --> 00:15:08,794 As Bishop Paul Bayes, my chair, has said in his forward to the report, 226 00:15:08,794 --> 00:15:13,511 we must thank those who have taken the trouble to complete the survey and 227 00:15:13,511 --> 00:15:15,712 to provide the data in this report. 228 00:15:15,712 --> 00:15:20,352 The findings of the reports make hard reading for communities of faith. 229 00:15:20,352 --> 00:15:23,261 And in the case of the church hard reading for 230 00:15:23,261 --> 00:15:27,349 an institution that believes it's built on the love of Christ. 231 00:15:27,349 --> 00:15:31,987 For too many lives, far too young an age have been traumatized by a hidden 232 00:15:31,987 --> 00:15:34,896 inner conflict between their love of God and 233 00:15:34,896 --> 00:15:38,041 their innate desire to love another human being. 234 00:15:38,041 --> 00:15:41,108 This conflict is harsh and potentially deadly. 235 00:15:41,108 --> 00:15:46,062 The level of considered at attempted suicide reported here is shocking and 236 00:15:46,062 --> 00:15:46,691 sobering. 237 00:15:46,691 --> 00:15:50,466 The statistics reflect lives which have been scarred and 238 00:15:50,466 --> 00:15:55,105 strained by mixed messaging of love, acceptance, condemnation, and fear. 239 00:15:55,105 --> 00:15:59,976 He like I wishes to thank those who have revisited this pain in order to help 240 00:15:59,976 --> 00:16:01,628 us all better understand. 241 00:16:01,628 --> 00:16:06,581 Like Bishop Paul I hope that the courageous sharing of our respondents will 242 00:16:06,581 --> 00:16:10,591 not go unheard and that human flourishing and human life will 243 00:16:10,591 --> 00:16:15,388 not be treated as a mere intellectual battle ground for dry conversation. 244 00:16:15,388 --> 00:16:20,891 I speak with specific reference to the 458 respondents, a tenth of the survey, that 245 00:16:20,891 --> 00:16:26,240 green box, who had actual experience of trying to change their sexual orientation. 246 00:16:26,240 --> 00:16:30,171 Their answers provide the first ever concrete study into so 247 00:16:30,171 --> 00:16:31,981 called conversion therapy. 248 00:16:31,981 --> 00:16:37,565 An issue that the government's own LGBTI survey highlighted as a significant issue. 249 00:16:37,565 --> 00:16:42,755 With 2% of 108,000 respondents reporting to have gone through it and 250 00:16:42,755 --> 00:16:45,192 a further 5% having been offered it. 251 00:16:45,192 --> 00:16:49,592 It might be worth me giving a brief explanation here as to what I mean 252 00:16:49,592 --> 00:16:51,087 by conversion therapy. 253 00:16:51,087 --> 00:16:53,601 Forgive me I just gonna have some water. 254 00:16:53,601 --> 00:16:58,789 It's generally accepted as an umbrella term that describes any activity that 255 00:16:58,789 --> 00:17:04,452 is taken with express aim of attempting to change some someone's sexual orientation. 256 00:17:04,452 --> 00:17:09,797 And I've given you a list of different types here and people's responses to them. 257 00:17:09,797 --> 00:17:13,650 The questionnaire explained that it includes attempts or 258 00:17:13,650 --> 00:17:18,527 a range of religious practices prayer, deliverance, emotional healing, and 259 00:17:18,527 --> 00:17:23,090 fasting through to counseling, aversion therapy, and sexual activity. 260 00:17:23,090 --> 00:17:27,651 The survey results provide strong evidence of the harm that attempts 261 00:17:27,651 --> 00:17:31,191 to change sexual orientation are reported to inflict. 262 00:17:31,191 --> 00:17:35,907 For instance, more than half of those, that's the brown line in the middle. 263 00:17:35,907 --> 00:17:41,335 Who had attempt to change their sexual orientation reported mental health issues. 264 00:17:41,335 --> 00:17:45,497 And less than a third said that they had gone on to lead a happy and 265 00:17:45,497 --> 00:17:46,519 fulfilled life. 266 00:17:46,519 --> 00:17:49,267 Less than a third, is that high or is that low? 267 00:17:49,267 --> 00:17:53,984 Nearly half stated they'd found it hard to accept myself for who I am, and 268 00:17:53,984 --> 00:17:57,600 that they've had to leave or change their faith groups. 269 00:17:57,600 --> 00:18:00,431 Of those who suffered mental health issues, 270 00:18:00,431 --> 00:18:05,937 which was nearly two-thirds of those who tried to change their sexual orientation, 271 00:18:05,937 --> 00:18:08,846 91 people said they had attempted suicide. 272 00:18:08,846 --> 00:18:14,820 While 193 said they had suicidal thoughts, 113 people said they had self harmed which 273 00:18:14,820 --> 00:18:20,404 was significantly higher amongst women, and 69 had suffered from eating disorders. 274 00:18:20,404 --> 00:18:25,671 Can I just stress it again, we're talking about a fifth of those who had attempted 275 00:18:25,671 --> 00:18:30,862 to change their sexual orientation who'd actually gone on to attempt suicide. 276 00:18:30,862 --> 00:18:33,769 And this is just out of a small survey group. 277 00:18:33,769 --> 00:18:38,722 But some will say, surely they were prevalent to mental health issues anyway. 278 00:18:38,722 --> 00:18:43,439 We know that the LGBQ community that's a group could define themselves 279 00:18:43,439 --> 00:18:46,820 as being one of the sexual minorities in this survey. 280 00:18:46,820 --> 00:18:50,671 So that's how I call it in this particular survey, LGBQ plus. 281 00:18:50,671 --> 00:18:55,624 We know that the community have a higher prevalence of mental health issues 282 00:18:55,624 --> 00:18:57,197 than the general public. 283 00:18:57,197 --> 00:18:59,790 Surely this is just a reflection of that. 284 00:18:59,790 --> 00:19:04,505 Well, the survey shows that there is clear evidence that the well being of 285 00:19:04,505 --> 00:19:08,593 the LGBTQ plus community is said to be significantly impacted 286 00:19:08,593 --> 00:19:12,684 by the experience of attempting to change sexual orientation. 287 00:19:12,684 --> 00:19:15,280 And that the spiritual well-being and 288 00:19:15,280 --> 00:19:20,076 religious faith is said to be negatively affected by the inner conflicts 289 00:19:20,076 --> 00:19:24,010 they've experienced because of their sexual orientation. 290 00:19:24,010 --> 00:19:28,334 These average mean scores for measures to do with physical, health, 291 00:19:28,334 --> 00:19:31,088 mental health, and emotional well-being. 292 00:19:31,088 --> 00:19:35,490 And on all of them, we found that the weighted average means score for 293 00:19:35,490 --> 00:19:40,915 the full group of LGBQ plus responded to haven't gone through conversion therapy. 294 00:19:40,915 --> 00:19:45,005 Which for top set was significantly higher than the bottom set. 295 00:19:45,005 --> 00:19:49,961 Perhaps not surprisingly, LGBQ respondents with experience attempting to 296 00:19:49,961 --> 00:19:54,759 change their sexual orientation was significantly more likely to agree 297 00:19:54,759 --> 00:19:58,216 that religion had been a source of conflict in my life. 298 00:19:58,216 --> 00:20:01,595 And that it caused me to hate myself for being who I am, 299 00:20:01,595 --> 00:20:04,425 these are statements we asked them to agree. 300 00:20:04,425 --> 00:20:07,648 And that religion no longer played a central part 301 00:20:07,648 --> 00:20:12,601 in their lives compared to those with no experience of attempting to change. 302 00:20:12,601 --> 00:20:16,138 You may just wonder why they just didn't give it all up. 303 00:20:16,138 --> 00:20:19,281 Might be a question you might want to ask me later. 304 00:20:19,281 --> 00:20:23,918 What was perhaps particularly alarming is that it is clear that this is 305 00:20:23,918 --> 00:20:28,086 an issue that specifically effects vulnerable LGBQ teenagers. 306 00:20:28,086 --> 00:20:32,016 Given that half of the respondents said that they attempted 307 00:20:32,016 --> 00:20:35,712 to change their sexual orientation whilst 18 or under. 308 00:20:35,712 --> 00:20:39,014 Several reported they'd be under 12 at the time. 309 00:20:39,014 --> 00:20:41,845 So we are definitely dealing with minors. 310 00:20:41,845 --> 00:20:44,440 But all these cases recent you might ask? 311 00:20:44,440 --> 00:20:48,526 Well, 60 of those respondents were still only under 25 when 312 00:20:48,526 --> 00:20:51,671 they completed this questionnaire in December. 313 00:20:51,671 --> 00:20:52,850 So, yes, it is recent. 314 00:20:52,850 --> 00:20:57,487 Another area that could cause us great concern is that few said they had 315 00:20:57,487 --> 00:21:00,319 sought advice from the medical profession. 316 00:21:00,319 --> 00:21:02,047 This is who they went to for 317 00:21:02,047 --> 00:21:06,607 advice, but nearly half said they'd sought it from a religious leader. 318 00:21:06,607 --> 00:21:09,753 The influence of religious leaders is profound. 319 00:21:09,753 --> 00:21:14,549 They were the most likely to be identified as the person who had advised or 320 00:21:14,549 --> 00:21:18,010 forced attempts to change their sexual orientation. 321 00:21:18,010 --> 00:21:20,448 That's the yellow line in the middle. 322 00:21:20,448 --> 00:21:25,164 Far more so I should say, then parents, which is the green line at the top, and 323 00:21:25,164 --> 00:21:28,859 that should worry us particularly in relation to minors. 324 00:21:28,859 --> 00:21:33,733 And yet they were the least likely person respondents that photo bill to be 325 00:21:33,733 --> 00:21:36,956 open with, that's the blue lines that the average. 326 00:21:36,956 --> 00:21:40,730 And one can understand why given their role in advising or 327 00:21:40,730 --> 00:21:42,382 forcing people to change. 328 00:21:42,382 --> 00:21:46,079 So why did people try to change their sexual orientation, 329 00:21:46,079 --> 00:21:47,809 what was their motivation? 330 00:21:47,809 --> 00:21:52,604 Well, you won't be perhaps be surprised to learn that these attempts were 331 00:21:52,604 --> 00:21:56,063 reported as being, sorry, why did they decide to change? 332 00:21:56,063 --> 00:22:01,014 Well, quite apart from the fact that 43 respondents said that they'd been 333 00:22:01,014 --> 00:22:05,889 given no choice and had to undergo it, that's toward the bottom of that list, 334 00:22:05,889 --> 00:22:10,844 i t seems the primary motivations for attempting to change which you either 335 00:22:10,844 --> 00:22:15,327 to a person's religious beliefs or their internalized homophobia. 336 00:22:15,327 --> 00:22:20,122 This was evidence by the fact that nearly two thirds of those who admitted 337 00:22:20,122 --> 00:22:25,704 attempting to change said they've done so because they were ashamed of their desire. 338 00:22:25,704 --> 00:22:30,735 Or and the quarter said they didn't want to be associated with LGBT people or 339 00:22:30,735 --> 00:22:31,836 their lifestyle. 340 00:22:31,836 --> 00:22:35,846 The top line though, nearly three-quarters said they done so 341 00:22:35,846 --> 00:22:38,834 because I believed my desires were sinful and 342 00:22:38,834 --> 00:22:42,923 over half said it was because my religious leader disapproved. 343 00:22:42,923 --> 00:22:46,932 This, ladies and gentlemen, is what happens when you put a young 344 00:22:46,932 --> 00:22:51,100 impressionable LGBT teenager in a hermetically sealed bubble, 345 00:22:51,100 --> 00:22:55,267 where all the messages they receive from those they respect and 346 00:22:55,267 --> 00:23:00,378 love is that their desires are sinful and that's who they are is unacceptable. 347 00:23:00,378 --> 00:23:03,443 No wonder they will do anything to try to change. 348 00:23:03,443 --> 00:23:06,822 I know because that is precisely what happened to me. 349 00:23:06,822 --> 00:23:09,180 I would've done anything to change, 350 00:23:09,180 --> 00:23:12,718 indeed I tried virtually everything I could to change. 351 00:23:12,718 --> 00:23:17,670 I just wanted to be like everyone else, married with children, acceptable, and 352 00:23:17,670 --> 00:23:18,378 respected. 353 00:23:18,378 --> 00:23:20,972 I am, but that's a long journey, isn't it? 354 00:23:20,972 --> 00:23:23,722 >> [LAUGH] >> You have to read the book to find 355 00:23:23,722 --> 00:23:24,508 that one out. 356 00:23:24,508 --> 00:23:29,305 [LAUGH] Having tried increasingly more severe forms of therapy which 357 00:23:29,305 --> 00:23:33,553 constantly left me feeling deeply disillusioned and depressed, 358 00:23:33,553 --> 00:23:36,777 not to mention and utter failure in the eyes of God. 359 00:23:36,777 --> 00:23:41,257 I then tried to accept the subsequent consequences that I'd have to 360 00:23:41,257 --> 00:23:43,301 be single and celibate for life. 361 00:23:43,301 --> 00:23:48,175 This felt like an equally impossible burden to me, which severely impacted 362 00:23:48,175 --> 00:23:52,891 my own mental health and drove me for a second time to hospital, given that 363 00:23:52,891 --> 00:23:57,765 I was suffering from acute stress, and then also a second nervous breakdown. 364 00:23:57,765 --> 00:24:02,720 Worryingly, the the survey shows that there are currently 117 people who 365 00:24:02,720 --> 00:24:06,730 participated in this survey who are currently trying to live 366 00:24:06,730 --> 00:24:11,448 with the same Christian sentence imposed by their religious belief and 367 00:24:11,448 --> 00:24:14,591 believing that they have to be celibate for life. 368 00:24:14,591 --> 00:24:18,285 And I personally believe that that is a ticking time bomb. 369 00:24:18,285 --> 00:24:21,272 So did these attempts to change actually work? 370 00:24:21,272 --> 00:24:25,753 Well, you won't be perhaps surprised learn that these attempts were 371 00:24:25,753 --> 00:24:28,978 reported as being overwhelmingly unsuccessful. 372 00:24:28,978 --> 00:24:32,516 Nearly three quarters stated that it didn't work, and 373 00:24:32,516 --> 00:24:34,875 I don't believe it works for others. 374 00:24:34,875 --> 00:24:39,121 However, 13 people after 361 said it did work completely and 375 00:24:39,121 --> 00:24:43,995 another 13 said it didn't work for me but I do believe it works for others. 376 00:24:43,995 --> 00:24:48,395 1 in 6, 60 out of 361 agree that it seemed to work for a while, but 377 00:24:48,395 --> 00:24:51,852 then more often I would class myself in that category. 378 00:24:51,852 --> 00:24:56,257 And it's interesting to try and understand what's going on there. 379 00:24:56,257 --> 00:24:58,774 The amount of social conditioning and 380 00:24:58,774 --> 00:25:03,414 psychological conditioning does make you believe that you are healed. 381 00:25:03,414 --> 00:25:06,166 So, what did respondents want to see happen? 382 00:25:06,166 --> 00:25:11,670 Well, the majority of respondents you won't be surprised over 50%, 51% in fact, 383 00:25:11,670 --> 00:25:16,547 were indeed in favor of criminalizing sexual orientation change therapy. 384 00:25:16,547 --> 00:25:21,108 This perhaps on surprisingly rose significantly amongst those with 385 00:25:21,108 --> 00:25:26,456 experience of attempting to change the sexual orientation as well as with gay and 386 00:25:26,456 --> 00:25:27,873 lesbian respondents. 387 00:25:27,873 --> 00:25:32,906 Interestingly, there's quite a marks difference across the age groups with 388 00:25:32,906 --> 00:25:37,779 those under 55 being clearly in favor of it being made a criminal offense, 389 00:25:37,779 --> 00:25:41,552 including up to three-quarters of 16 to 18 year olds. 390 00:25:41,552 --> 00:25:46,191 But actually all they wanted to criminalize that this was because they 391 00:25:46,191 --> 00:25:49,808 were aware it damaged a person's mental health 98%. 392 00:25:49,808 --> 00:25:53,032 And a significant portion also stated that it was 393 00:25:53,032 --> 00:25:55,783 because they believed it causes self hate. 394 00:25:55,783 --> 00:25:59,005 Now I'm just gonna pause a minute go out of script, 395 00:25:59,005 --> 00:26:02,860 you may think all these statistics are blindingly obvious. 396 00:26:02,860 --> 00:26:07,892 I can assure you, there's a group of very learned religious leaders out there, 397 00:26:07,892 --> 00:26:11,743 who think this is all bunk, that I'm making these figures up, 398 00:26:11,743 --> 00:26:15,672 i.e that it does work, that people should be going through it. 399 00:26:15,672 --> 00:26:18,975 And that's why we need this research. 400 00:26:18,975 --> 00:26:21,332 Anyway I'll come back, so many are so 401 00:26:21,332 --> 00:26:26,367 clear about the dangers of attempting to change sexual orientation therapy. 402 00:26:26,367 --> 00:26:29,512 Why are we seeing it still being practiced today? 403 00:26:29,512 --> 00:26:34,860 How do we protect those most vulnerable to going through it either voluntarily or 404 00:26:34,860 --> 00:26:35,489 forcibly? 405 00:26:35,489 --> 00:26:40,205 And what of the barriers that are likely to stop this issue finally being 406 00:26:40,205 --> 00:26:40,913 addressed? 407 00:26:40,913 --> 00:26:45,709 Well, in my mind, there are three notable barriers, which all deserve naming. 408 00:26:45,709 --> 00:26:48,855 And the first is the age old barrier of disbelief. 409 00:26:48,855 --> 00:26:53,178 So I'll just touch that, where the default position is to ignore or 410 00:26:53,178 --> 00:26:57,661 discredit the results because they are just too plain inconvenient. 411 00:26:57,661 --> 00:27:02,535 Within hours of a survey results being made public there were comments and 412 00:27:02,535 --> 00:27:07,254 then blog from various Christians, mostly evangelical, trying to set out 413 00:27:07,254 --> 00:27:12,053 reasons why people shouldn't pay any attention to the shocking results. 414 00:27:12,053 --> 00:27:16,534 No matter that the project had been overseen by such an eminent group, 415 00:27:16,534 --> 00:27:21,252 including a senior evangelical Dr. Jamie Harrison, who's the chair of 416 00:27:21,252 --> 00:27:25,499 the house of liberty for the Church of England and himself for a GP. 417 00:27:25,499 --> 00:27:30,056 It reminded me of the time back in 2001 when I did some focus groups 418 00:27:30,056 --> 00:27:33,124 research whilst on the Archbishop's Council, 419 00:27:33,124 --> 00:27:36,346 of which I was a founding member, in order to try and 420 00:27:36,346 --> 00:27:41,693 reflect back to the church what people on the periphery of it thought of the church. 421 00:27:41,693 --> 00:27:46,173 Just wonder what you think the church might be a bit scared to find out. 422 00:27:46,173 --> 00:27:50,893 But anyway, following a slightly awkward silence amongst my colleagues, 423 00:27:50,893 --> 00:27:56,003 no doubt in part because of the rather critical nature of the results I'd just 424 00:27:56,003 --> 00:28:00,800 shared, which highlighted the fact that the people found the church aloof, 425 00:28:00,800 --> 00:28:05,753 hypocritical, stuck in its ways, and beset with internal wranglings over sex. 426 00:28:05,753 --> 00:28:10,549 A certain Arch Bishop piped up but Jane you've spoken to the wrong people, 427 00:28:10,549 --> 00:28:12,672 people don't really think this. 428 00:28:12,672 --> 00:28:17,232 I remember there was an even more awkward silence as people nervously 429 00:28:17,232 --> 00:28:21,872 shuffled in their seats before one member of the clergy bravely and yet 430 00:28:21,872 --> 00:28:24,782 quietly responded, but archbishop, they do. 431 00:28:24,782 --> 00:28:26,746 We just don't want to admit it. 432 00:28:26,746 --> 00:28:28,476 It was exactly the same and 433 00:28:28,476 --> 00:28:33,348 I presented some findings a couple of years ago from a YouGov research poll 434 00:28:33,348 --> 00:28:37,830 that I ran regarding people's attitudes towards same sex marriage. 435 00:28:37,830 --> 00:28:41,446 I dared to ask the question which religious group, if any, 436 00:28:41,446 --> 00:28:44,200 respondents affiliated themselves with. 437 00:28:44,200 --> 00:28:48,837 As well as which worshiping community, if any, they were actively part of. 438 00:28:48,837 --> 00:28:53,633 In order that we could break the results down by practicing Anglicans and 439 00:28:53,633 --> 00:28:55,678 practicing Catholics and so on. 440 00:28:55,678 --> 00:28:57,644 Whichever way you cut the data, 441 00:28:57,644 --> 00:29:02,363 the fact remains that results clearly showed there were significantly 442 00:29:02,363 --> 00:29:07,236 more Anglicans in favor of same sex marriage than those who were against it. 443 00:29:07,236 --> 00:29:12,035 Not comfortable findings for our traditionalist friends who then tried 444 00:29:12,035 --> 00:29:17,145 valiantly to dismiss for data by claiming that these weren't real Anglicans. 445 00:29:17,145 --> 00:29:21,941 Evidently, according to the critics, just because people said they went to 446 00:29:21,941 --> 00:29:25,952 church didn't necessarily mean they were proper Anglicans. 447 00:29:25,952 --> 00:29:26,737 I must admit, 448 00:29:26,737 --> 00:29:31,297 I beg to differ given the parallel state of church attendance in the UK. 449 00:29:31,297 --> 00:29:35,385 I personally believe that if someone claims to be a church goer, 450 00:29:35,385 --> 00:29:40,810 especially if they're under 30, where the results were most pronounced in favor 451 00:29:40,810 --> 00:29:45,919 of same sex marriage, then the truth is that they really aren't likely to be one. 452 00:29:45,919 --> 00:29:50,792 Let's be honest, not that many young people are that eager to tell the world 453 00:29:50,792 --> 00:29:52,913 that they go to church these days. 454 00:29:52,913 --> 00:29:57,708 Ironically, as an aside, I should just mention that the one group found to be 455 00:29:57,708 --> 00:30:02,820 significantly behind the rest of the general public in its acceptance of same 456 00:30:02,820 --> 00:30:07,683 sex marriage was in fact, Anglican men over 55. 457 00:30:07,683 --> 00:30:11,389 The very group that was being so vociferous, so 458 00:30:11,389 --> 00:30:14,315 the results were pretty consistent. 459 00:30:14,315 --> 00:30:15,875 Therefore as I said, 460 00:30:15,875 --> 00:30:21,726 people will do anything they can to dismiss data they don't want to hear. 461 00:30:21,726 --> 00:30:27,772 Such as questioning the methodology used as many academics here will know. 462 00:30:27,772 --> 00:30:31,771 Hence the importance of being open to peer review, 463 00:30:31,771 --> 00:30:34,891 as indeed we were with the faith survey. 464 00:30:34,891 --> 00:30:40,547 The fact that we uncovered in a sample of over 4,600 respondents, 465 00:30:40,547 --> 00:30:46,591 91 people who had attempted suicide should make us all stop in our tracks, 466 00:30:46,591 --> 00:30:51,758 and want to know more, rather than dismissing the data out of hand. 467 00:30:51,758 --> 00:30:57,509 Had it been just one person who had attempted suicide, that be seen as one 468 00:30:57,509 --> 00:31:03,652 person too many by a church whose focuse is to believe in the sanctity of life. 469 00:31:03,652 --> 00:31:08,529 The callousness with which these results have been treated 470 00:31:08,529 --> 00:31:12,528 by some is breathtaking, but sadly, not surprising. 471 00:31:12,528 --> 00:31:18,674 For it is easy to dismiss or avoid than to actually engage. 472 00:31:18,674 --> 00:31:23,355 The second barrier relates to matters much closer to home, 473 00:31:23,355 --> 00:31:27,941 particularly with institutions of learning including, 474 00:31:27,941 --> 00:31:33,403 I'm afraid, perhaps this prestigious university, my own alma mater. 475 00:31:33,403 --> 00:31:39,060 Indeed it risks becoming prevalent in all places of public discourse. 476 00:31:39,060 --> 00:31:44,423 I refer, of course, to the recent discussions surrounding what some 477 00:31:44,423 --> 00:31:49,493 will term free speech and others will determine as hate speech, 478 00:31:49,493 --> 00:31:55,540 specifically in relation to the sensitive topics of sexuality and gender. 479 00:31:55,540 --> 00:32:00,709 Should we protect the deemed right of university lecturers and 480 00:32:00,709 --> 00:32:06,268 supervisors to express their views in public, even if they are highly 481 00:32:06,268 --> 00:32:11,924 offenses and likely to cause both hurt and as we've seen tonight, harm. 482 00:32:11,924 --> 00:32:17,873 I was reflecting on this question during my first reading of the Church of 483 00:32:17,873 --> 00:32:24,118 England's new pastoral resources produced by the Pastoral Advisory Group. 484 00:32:24,118 --> 00:32:27,142 Which aims to provide guidelines for 485 00:32:27,142 --> 00:32:31,431 the care of LGBTI people of all ages within the church. 486 00:32:31,431 --> 00:32:36,697 In what has been acknowledged as a groundbreaking first step for 487 00:32:36,697 --> 00:32:41,281 the Church of England, this group has managed to persuade 488 00:32:41,281 --> 00:32:46,255 the House of Bishops to boldly name six pervading evils which 489 00:32:46,255 --> 00:32:50,351 are a bar to good pastoral practice of LGBTI people. 490 00:32:50,351 --> 00:32:56,203 Namely prejudice, silence, ignorance, fear, hypocrisy, and misuse of power. 491 00:32:56,203 --> 00:33:01,861 I saw myself of being quite publicly critical of these guidelines and 492 00:33:01,861 --> 00:33:06,348 their complete inability to tackle the seriousness of 493 00:33:06,348 --> 00:33:10,347 the safeguarding issues I've just highlighted. 494 00:33:10,347 --> 00:33:14,833 I do recognize that there is some merit in being open and 495 00:33:14,833 --> 00:33:21,562 honest about the difficulties that beset us, the LGBTI community within the church. 496 00:33:21,562 --> 00:33:26,925 As a necessary next step however, I've issued the challenge to all 497 00:33:26,925 --> 00:33:34,047 those involved in overseeing the churches' formal discussions around human sexuality, 498 00:33:34,047 --> 00:33:39,021 as to whether they too are guilty of perpetrating these evils? 499 00:33:39,021 --> 00:33:42,823 And I'd like to suggest that you here in Oxford, 500 00:33:42,823 --> 00:33:47,504 might be in a position to lead the way amongst our academic 501 00:33:47,504 --> 00:33:52,575 institutions by having the courage to have the same discourse. 502 00:33:52,575 --> 00:33:56,768 Are you guilty of prejudice, silence, ignorance, fear, 503 00:33:56,768 --> 00:33:59,206 hypocrisy, and misuse of power? 504 00:33:59,206 --> 00:34:03,985 Well, personally I think the University has done extremely 505 00:34:03,985 --> 00:34:06,033 well in it's recent work. 506 00:34:06,033 --> 00:34:12,472 Helped to unsure by your LGBTI advisory board in addressing most of these evils. 507 00:34:12,472 --> 00:34:17,055 You are breaking the silence, you are tackling ignorance, 508 00:34:17,055 --> 00:34:20,662 you are confronting both fear and hypocrisy. 509 00:34:20,662 --> 00:34:27,002 However, I venture to ask whether there is still prejudice in some quarters and 510 00:34:27,002 --> 00:34:32,172 perhaps more importantly, where there is still a misuse of power? 511 00:34:32,172 --> 00:34:37,830 As the Church of England's pastoral resource rightly ask regarding 512 00:34:37,830 --> 00:34:42,708 this specific evil, can it be right that pastoral encounters 513 00:34:42,708 --> 00:34:47,781 still take place without awareness over disparities of power? 514 00:34:47,781 --> 00:34:53,439 And this to me is particularly relevant in an institution where there 515 00:34:53,439 --> 00:34:58,902 are enormous disparities of power between students and lecturers. 516 00:34:58,902 --> 00:35:02,999 As well as between students and their supervisors. 517 00:35:02,999 --> 00:35:07,779 To have one's very identity questioned by someone in such 518 00:35:07,779 --> 00:35:12,949 an eminent position of power is, I believe, abusive in the extreme. 519 00:35:12,949 --> 00:35:16,945 For me, this is not a matter of freedom of speech, but 520 00:35:16,945 --> 00:35:22,115 rather a form of emotional abuse that gives minimal protection 521 00:35:22,115 --> 00:35:28,452 to the vulnerable adult who is both the subject and the object of the prejudice. 522 00:35:28,452 --> 00:35:33,424 And who themselves may be dealing with issues of self hate and 523 00:35:33,424 --> 00:35:38,888 internalized homophobia which these messages can only reinforce. 524 00:35:38,888 --> 00:35:43,373 Toughen up, I hear you say, learn to develop a thicker skin. 525 00:35:43,373 --> 00:35:46,394 But what do we say that to our black and 526 00:35:46,394 --> 00:35:51,272 Asian colleagues when questioned whether they have a right 527 00:35:51,272 --> 00:35:56,246 to exist alongside us in the world, to marry, to love and be loved? 528 00:35:56,246 --> 00:36:02,584 Would we say that to our Jewish friends when they are confronted with those who 529 00:36:02,584 --> 00:36:09,020 hold wholly repugnant views that refuse to accept the horrors of the Holocaust? 530 00:36:09,020 --> 00:36:14,771 I ask you to think for a minute what it must feel like to have spent one's 531 00:36:14,771 --> 00:36:20,037 formative years growing up in an environment, as I set out earlier, 532 00:36:20,037 --> 00:36:25,890 where everyone you know, finds your sexual or gender identity abhorrent? 533 00:36:25,890 --> 00:36:30,959 And where you constantly yearn for the day when you can finally 534 00:36:30,959 --> 00:36:35,444 escape to a place where you can at least be your true self. 535 00:36:35,444 --> 00:36:41,101 Only to find that this very place is just as abusive, just as homophobic, 536 00:36:41,101 --> 00:36:46,661 just as prejudiced, or just worse that those in positions of power and 537 00:36:46,661 --> 00:36:50,951 authority over you to whom you are expected to differ, 538 00:36:50,951 --> 00:36:54,169 are purveyors of the same hostile views. 539 00:36:54,169 --> 00:36:58,362 Please, let us not be under any disillusionment here. 540 00:36:58,362 --> 00:37:04,411 Those who holds such homophobic views are prepared to spout them publicly. 541 00:37:04,411 --> 00:37:08,018 Not for meaningful debate and discourse, but 542 00:37:08,018 --> 00:37:13,578 because they want those around them to know exactly where they stand. 543 00:37:13,578 --> 00:37:18,551 Indeed, for many, it's akin to taking a stand against what they 544 00:37:18,551 --> 00:37:23,234 perceive as an increasingly liberal and corrupt society, 545 00:37:23,234 --> 00:37:27,623 where they see themselves as the last bastion of truth. 546 00:37:27,623 --> 00:37:32,793 To the LGBTI student concerned, a vulnerable adult in my opinion, 547 00:37:32,793 --> 00:37:35,912 this can feel like a declaration of war. 548 00:37:35,912 --> 00:37:41,762 Not an invitation to debate and one where they are perceived as the enemy. 549 00:37:41,762 --> 00:37:47,904 Many will feel they have no choice but to sit there in silence and just take it. 550 00:37:47,904 --> 00:37:52,780 They will chalk up the experience as just another reason why 551 00:37:52,780 --> 00:37:56,681 they should remain ashamed of their desires and 552 00:37:56,681 --> 00:38:01,947 proof that they are unacceptable in a world that charges them not 553 00:38:01,947 --> 00:38:08,285 because of what they have said or done, but because of how they have been created. 554 00:38:08,285 --> 00:38:14,234 It will add further strain to their deteriorating mental health and will 555 00:38:14,234 --> 00:38:20,770 sadly, more often than not lead to greater well being complications later in life. 556 00:38:20,770 --> 00:38:25,059 Freedom of speech has been hard one in our country, and 557 00:38:25,059 --> 00:38:29,641 of course it is a bedrock of any stable and open democracy. 558 00:38:29,641 --> 00:38:32,665 But like everything that is precious, 559 00:38:32,665 --> 00:38:37,540 I believe it should be carefully defined and have its limits. 560 00:38:37,540 --> 00:38:42,416 Most of us have an innate sense of what these limits should be. 561 00:38:42,416 --> 00:38:46,612 There hasn't till recently, been an unspoken moral, 562 00:38:46,612 --> 00:38:51,195 an ethical code to which we all, well, nearly all, subscribe. 563 00:38:51,195 --> 00:38:57,240 The difficulty is, when the boundaries of this moral code are not shared and 564 00:38:57,240 --> 00:39:01,532 when the ability to cause offense becomes in reality, 565 00:39:01,532 --> 00:39:04,068 the ability to cause great harm. 566 00:39:04,068 --> 00:39:09,821 I for one, I'm a great believer in the importance of promoting a society 567 00:39:09,821 --> 00:39:14,892 that enables freedom of speech to the point that it does no harm. 568 00:39:14,892 --> 00:39:19,964 And ladies and gentlemen, if there's clear evidence of harm as 569 00:39:19,964 --> 00:39:25,034 our survey as surely shown, then we have a duty of care to protect, 570 00:39:25,034 --> 00:39:31,081 particularly those who are in a vulnerable position due to either known or 571 00:39:31,081 --> 00:39:33,911 unconscious power differentials. 572 00:39:33,911 --> 00:39:39,274 Primum non nocere, first, do no harm, is one of the principal precepts 573 00:39:39,274 --> 00:39:43,956 of bioethics on which our medical professions is founded. 574 00:39:43,956 --> 00:39:48,150 I believe that this ancient axiom would do well to be 575 00:39:48,150 --> 00:39:53,222 the principal precept of our academic institutions today too. 576 00:39:53,222 --> 00:39:55,365 A new code for all to live by. 577 00:39:55,365 --> 00:39:59,364 So the final barrier that will stop us addressing 578 00:39:59,364 --> 00:40:04,238 the issues is I fear politics, both with a small and a capital P. 579 00:40:04,238 --> 00:40:08,335 Politics in the church, politics in the government, 580 00:40:08,335 --> 00:40:12,138 politics in the mental health professions, and 581 00:40:12,138 --> 00:40:16,723 even politics within the LGBTI communities themselves. 582 00:40:16,723 --> 00:40:21,113 This topic is beset by difficulties that it touches so 583 00:40:21,113 --> 00:40:23,940 many red buttons for so many people. 584 00:40:23,940 --> 00:40:29,108 And as with so many issues that concern Politics with a capital P, 585 00:40:29,108 --> 00:40:34,374 the debates regarding the presenting issues such as in this case 586 00:40:34,374 --> 00:40:39,642 safeguarding of young LGBTI teenagers, become proxy debates for 587 00:40:39,642 --> 00:40:45,202 other more contentious issues where powerful interests are at work. 588 00:40:45,202 --> 00:40:49,982 Some of these interests are obvious, such as party politics, 589 00:40:49,982 --> 00:40:52,711 both in the church and in the state. 590 00:40:52,711 --> 00:40:57,683 And some are not so obvious, such as in the medical professions. 591 00:40:57,683 --> 00:41:02,754 This could be a lecture in itself, so I'll just name the barrier, 592 00:41:02,754 --> 00:41:06,946 and encourage you to watch how the debate unfolds in 593 00:41:06,946 --> 00:41:10,651 the years ahead as we discuss how best to ban or 594 00:41:10,651 --> 00:41:15,529 end conversion therapy, there's a subtle difference there. 595 00:41:15,529 --> 00:41:20,504 However in doing so, we can begin bringing in legislation that 596 00:41:20,504 --> 00:41:24,892 can trully safeguard the most vulnerable in our midst. 597 00:41:24,892 --> 00:41:30,256 So in conclusion, I firmly believe that the gravest challenge that 598 00:41:30,256 --> 00:41:35,622 still faces the LGBTI community today is that of protecting those 599 00:41:35,622 --> 00:41:41,572 court in the deadly crossfire of debates concerning faith and sexuality. 600 00:41:41,572 --> 00:41:47,619 Our survey has shown that there are many whose well being is significantly 601 00:41:47,619 --> 00:41:52,983 at risk because of these debates, and may well lead some to consider 602 00:41:52,983 --> 00:41:58,056 conversion therapy which poses even greater, more deadly risk. 603 00:41:58,056 --> 00:42:02,152 I believe that there is an overwhelming desire for 604 00:42:02,152 --> 00:42:05,858 a ban on conversion therapy to be implemented. 605 00:42:05,858 --> 00:42:10,831 However, what is needed even more is for those who subscribe to 606 00:42:10,831 --> 00:42:17,171 a non-inclusive theology to see the harm that their teaching and views cause. 607 00:42:17,171 --> 00:42:20,390 There will always be resistance to this. 608 00:42:20,390 --> 00:42:25,559 With obfuscation, politics, and debates around free speech each 609 00:42:25,559 --> 00:42:31,408 playing their part, but the tide is turning and a new day is indeed dawning. 610 00:42:31,408 --> 00:42:35,699 I think is no coincidence that faith and sexuality or 611 00:42:35,699 --> 00:42:41,745 perhaps more accurately faith and desire, the out working of our sexuality, 612 00:42:41,745 --> 00:42:47,204 are two of the greatest powers at work within the various tribes and 613 00:42:47,204 --> 00:42:50,326 groupings that constitute humankind. 614 00:42:50,326 --> 00:42:57,054 I'd suggest that they are the touch-paper topics that fueled more arguments and 615 00:42:57,054 --> 00:43:01,344 more wars than any other forces that work in our world, 616 00:43:01,344 --> 00:43:03,878 either now, or indeed in the past. 617 00:43:03,878 --> 00:43:09,437 No wonder therefore, that their nexus is causing such trauma and pain. 618 00:43:09,437 --> 00:43:14,703 I remember my friend Nadia Bolz Weber once asking me why I thought 619 00:43:14,703 --> 00:43:19,480 the church had such difficulties over issues to do with sex. 620 00:43:19,480 --> 00:43:24,062 I said I thought it was because we were scared by the power 621 00:43:24,062 --> 00:43:27,279 that sexual desire can have over people. 622 00:43:27,279 --> 00:43:29,912 She nodded, and noddlingly added, 623 00:43:29,912 --> 00:43:34,689 I think it's because the church see sex as the competition. 624 00:43:34,689 --> 00:43:36,249 >> [LAUGH] >> How true? 625 00:43:36,249 --> 00:43:41,612 So I think that's how society sees it, and by your reaction so do you. 626 00:43:41,612 --> 00:43:46,391 They perceive the church as being anti-sex, ashamed of sex, 627 00:43:46,391 --> 00:43:48,244 embarrassed about sex. 628 00:43:48,244 --> 00:43:50,480 Let's be honest.