LGBT Labour marching at London Pride (Photo: Instagram)
LGBT Labour has today released a statement condemning the hiring of an intern from an organization that promotes conversion therapy by Scottish Labour Equalities Spokeswoman Rhoda Grant .
The statement reads: ‘LGBT Labour are disappointed that the Scottish Labour Party’s Equalities Spokeswomen hired an intern from a Christian Action Research and Education (CARE) programme.
‘CARE are an organization that campaigned against both equal marriage and repealing Section 28, and have previously donated money to organizations and events that promote conversion therapy and other related activities.
‘LGBT Labour was proud to ensure Labour Party policy at the General Election pledged to end conversion therapy. We maintain our commitment to ensuring conversion therapy is made illegal and will continue to push for legislation to be brought forwards to ensure that the practice is made illegal.
‘LGBT Labour calls on Scottish Labour to revoke this internship and cut ties with the organisation CARE.’
Read our statement on the hiring of an intern from an organisation that promotes conversion therapy by Scottish Labour Equalities Spokeswoman.
We believe Scottish Labour must revoke this internship and cut ties with the organisation CARE. pic.twitter.com/sczV83ilp3
— LGBT Labour (@LGBTLabour) July 31, 2018
Peter Tatchell ‘shocked’
LGBTI rights activist Peter Tatchell said: ‘I’m shocked that a Labour spokesperson on equalities would have an intern from CARE, given that the organization was previously exposed as having helped fund a so-called gay cure conference. It seems totally inconsistent with Rhoda Grant’s commitment to LGBT and human rights.’
A CARE spokesperson denied any affiliation between the group and gay conversion therapy programmes.
The spokesperson said: ‘Graduates on our well-respected educational scheme take voluntary internships. The bursary is to fund the study programme – the lectures and the study weekends.
‘CARE gave a small gift to Anglican Mainstream in 2009 but the gift was in no way intended as an endorsement of all that was discussed at the conference.
‘It is entirely false to label CARE a gay-cure charity. We do not support or advocate for any so called “gay-cure”.’
Grant is also the Labour MSP for Highlands and Islands.
GSN has reached out to Grant for comment.
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