|
The Anglican Church is
currently carrying out a “Listening Exercise” to gather opinions
from a wide range of groups across the world on attitudes towards
human sexuality. The SIG was asked to respond on behalf of the
College:
This report is prepared by a
Special Interest Group in the Royal College of
Psychiatrists. We have limited our comments to areas that
pertain to the origins of sexuality and the psychological and
social wellbeing of lesbian, gay and bisexual people (LGB), which
we believe will inform the Church of England’s listening
exercise.
Equal
access
The Royal College of Psychiatrists
holds the view that LGB people should be regarded as valued members
of society who have exactly similar rights and responsibilities as
all other citizens. This includes equal access to health care, the
rights and responsibilities involved in a civil partnership, the
rights and responsibilities involved in procreating and bringing up
children, freedom to practice a religion as a lay or religious
person, freedom from harassment or discrimination in any sphere and
a right to protection from therapies that are potentially damaging,
particularly those that purport to change sexual
orientation.
We shall address a number of issues that arise
from our expertise in this area with the aim of informing the
debate within the Church of England about homosexual
people. These concern the:
|