Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW) has made a public commitment to stand in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community and support a ban on conversion therapy in the UK.
The term ‘conversion therapy’ is a type of treatment that assumes certain sexual orientations or gender identities are inferior to others and seeks to change them on that basis.
It is a tremendous feeling knowing that the Trust stands by and supports all LGBT+ people and encourages us to be our authentic selves in an inclusive environment.
Simon PearsonChair of the CNTW LGBT+ Staff Network
Simon Pearson, Chair of the CNTW LGBT+ Staff Network said: “This is a monumental and highly welcomed decision by the Trust. It demonstrates to staff, service users and the wider population to whom we serve, that we are accepted without exclusion, and we are afforded the respect and recognition for our individuality. It is a tremendous feeling knowing that the Trust stands by and supports all LGBT+ people and encourages us to be our authentic selves in an inclusive environment.”
The position statement provides assurances that as well as supporting a ban on conversion therapy, the Trust will respect the identities of those people with diverse gender and sexuality expressions as well as ensuring that CNTW is a safe place to both work and receive services.
The Trust also commits raise awareness and provide education about the harm caused by ‘conversion therapy’ and to acknowledge that all LGBTQ+ questioning individuals should be able to access therapeutic support to make sense of their emotions and identity.
We are committed to standing with our LGBTQ+ community and are determined to ensure that anyone accessing therapy should be able to do so without threat or fear of being told they should change a fundamental part of themselves.
James DuncanChief Executive
CNTW’s position statement on conversion therapy and LGBTQ+ patients
“Conversion therapy” is the term for a type of treatment that assumes certain sexual orientations or gender identities are inferior to others and seeks to change them on that basis.
The term can be associated with the use of any harmful practices that attempt to change an individuals’ sexual orientation or gender identity.
Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust believes that sexual orientation and gender identity is not a ‘disorder’ or mental health ‘problem’ that requires change and treatment.
We will:
- Stand in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community and support the ban on conversion therapy in the UK
- Respect the identities of those people with diverse gender and sexuality expressions
- Ensure that CNTW is a safe place for those people with diverse gender and sexuality expressions to work and receive services
- Acknowledge that all LGBTQ+ questioning individuals should be able to access therapeutic support to make sense of their emotions and identity, but also be determined that anyone accessing therapy should do so without threat or fear of being told they should change a fundamental part of themselves.
- Raise awareness and provide education about the harm caused by “conversion therapy”
Ken Jarrold, CBE, Chairman
James Duncan, Chief Executive
Simon Pearson, LGBTQ+ Staff Network Chair