Just before the
Newark by-election we wrote to Roger Helmer the UKIP candidate about his infamous sex change tweet.
Dear Roger
On the 16th January
2011 you wrote the following on twitter:
"Why
is it OK for a surgeon to perform a sex-change operation, but not OK for a
psychiatrist to try to "turn" a consenting homosexual?"
Do
you still stand by that? Do you think it is in any way offensive? If so do you
think it important that people still stress their point of view? Do you think
that a psychiatrist could 'turn' a consenting heterosexual.
Best
regards
This
was his reply
Dear Zoe,
I can hardly “stand
by it”, as I never made a statement. I merely asked a question. It
was intended to be light-hearted and amusing, and I was astonished by the tide
of synthetic indignation it engendered from strident pressure groups.
I simply don’t know
if it is possible to change a person’s sexuality through any kind of medical or
psychiatric intervention (and I’m not sure I much care).
What I do care about
is the right of individuals to make choices regarding their own behaviour and
health and welfare. Take a less contentious example. I don’t know
whether homeopathy works or not (though I suspect not). But as a
libertarian, I defend the right of anyone who believes it works, or believes it
might work, to try it. Similarly, if a homosexual person wants to change
their sexuality, and believes that some intervention might achieve this, I
would defend their right to try. The impression I have is that the gay
lobby regards any such intervention as intolerable and unacceptable, and
vilifies anyone who seeks it. I find that attitude deeply illiberal.
Best regards.
ROGER HELMER MEP
