British politician Ann Widdecombe says science may one day allow people to change their sexuality, as she defends her previous support for gay conversion therapy practices.
Widdecombe was previously a member of the Conservative Party serving in the British parliament from 1987 until 2010. Last week she returned to politics and was elected to the European Parliament as a member of the Brexit Party.
The MP has a long history of opposing LGBTI rights and has previously voiced her opposition to lowering the age of consent and repealing Britain’s Section 28 legislation which stopped local authorities mentioning LGBTI people and homosexuality. She was also a vocal opponent of marriage equality.
Appearing on Sky News UK Widdecombe was asked about a 2012 article where she argued that conversion therapy should be made available to people who are “unhappy homosexuals”.
The newly elected MP said if people were willing to accept that gender transition was possible, they should also accept that science may one day be able to remove homosexuality.
Discussing her previous article Widdecombe said, “I also pointed out there was a time when we thought it was quite impossible for men to become women and vice versa.
“And the fact we now think it’s quite impossible for people to switch sexuality doesn’t mean science may not yet produce an answer at some stage.”
Widdecombe said she didn’t believe that there were currently any practices that successfully change people’s sexuality, but we shouldn’t rule out searching for a pathway.
“I’ve never claimed that such science already exists… I’ve merely said that if you simply rule out the possibility of it, you’re denying people confused about their sexuality the chance [to change it].”
Widdecombe said she did not believe the party would be making any official policy statements in the area of sexuality.
OIP Staff
