In the United Kingdom (UK), a ban on gay conversion therapy has been called for by 370 religious leaders all around the world including the South African cleric, Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Gay conversion therapy is the attempt to change a homosexual’s sexual orientation or to suppress a person’s gender identity.
The signatories to the declaration include leaders of major faiths around the world, many of which have been known as Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transgenders (LGBT) advocates. The declaration calling for a ban will be launched at a conference sponsored by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) on Wednesday.
Chief Rabbi of Ireland David Rosen, Anglican Bishop of Liverpool, Paul Bayes, and Mary McAleese, the former president of Ireland, are also among those who have signed the declaration.
The BBC reports that two UK prime ministers have promised to ban conversion therapy but any action is yet to be taken in that direction. Other religious leaders fear that the ban on conversion camps will criminalise the pastors. Conversion therapy camps are sometimes hosted by religious denominations.