Head of the Australian Christian Lobby Believes Parents Should Be Able To Torture Their Gay Children

A leading ‘no’ campaigner in Australia’s marriage equality debate and influential Christian lobbyist believes parents should have the right to choose to send their children to gay conversion therapy.
The Australian Christian Lobby’s Lyle Shelton shared his controversial views with Buzzfeed Australia’s Is it on? podacast.
He was being interviewed about Australia’s current postal survey on marriage equality, when he was asked about conversion therapy.

Shelton argued that while it was up to adults to make their own decision about getting ‘counselling’ it was up to parents to make the decision for their kids.
‘Should people be forced to go to conversion therapy? No, absolutely not. Now, children — they are under the care and responsibility of their parents, so I think if someone’s a minor, it is up to their parents. And I think parental rights should be respected,’ he told Buzzfeed.
‘There’s obviously got to be context and care and compassion in all of these situations, but ultimately children are in the care and the legal responsibility of their parents.’
Gay or trans conversion therapy is a range of discredited practices that claim to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.
Many medical and mental health organizations have long rejected gay conversion therapy with some states in the United States and countries banning the practice altogether.
‘There is no sound scientific evidence that innate sexual orientation can be changed,’ the World Psychiatric Association said in a 2012 statement.
‘The provision of any intervention purporting to ‘treat’ something that is not a disorder is wholly unethical.’

In response to Sheltion’s comments the Australian Medical Association reminded that it and the World Medical Association ‘wholly condemns conversion therapy’.
Australian Christians for Marriage Equality condemned Shelton’s comments.
‘Forcing children into ex-gay therapy is tantamount to child abuse. These programs are based on a fundamental lie, and are intrinsically homophobic,’ said Rev Dr Margaret Mayman, Chair of Australian Christians for Marriage Equality.
‘Sadly, Mr Shelton’s comments show that deep aversion to, and a refusal to accept the existence of, LGBT orientation and identity is at the heart of the opposition to marriage equality for many.

‘We call on all leaders of the Church who are encouraging a ‘no’ vote to publicly reject Mr Shelton’s dangerous and damaging words. Mr Shelton is the identified public leader of the ‘no’ campaign. When he speaks, he speaks for the whole campaign.’