The National Secular Society has called for a crackdown on charities which promote homophobia, after a Christian organisation which supports ‘gay conversion therapy’ was refused charitable status.
The International Foundation for Therapeutic and Counselling Choice (IFTCC) applied to register with the Charity Commission for England and Wales in 2023 but was refused. Its appeal against the decision was dismissed at a charity tribunal last month.
IFTCC says it exists to support “dedicated providers of services to individuals seeking change of their unwanted relational and sexual behaviours, attractions and patterns”. It says its approach is based on “a Judeo-Christian understanding of the body, marriage and the family”, and includes support for what it calls “change-allowing therapies”.
The Commission refused to register IFTCC on the basis that its purposes “were not exclusively charitable nor for the public benefit”.
The NSS said the ruling should lead to a review of charities promoting stigmatising ideas about LGBT people, including those which promote or condone ‘conversion therapy’.
A 2014 consensus statement from the UK Council for Psychotherapy concluded that ‘conversion therapy’ is harmful. In 2017, major counselling and psychotherapy bodies from across the UK committed to ending ‘conversion therapy’. A survey in 2018 found well over half of respondents who had attempted to change their sexual orientation had subsequently suffered from mental health issues.
IFTCC charitable status rejected due to “political purpose”
IFTCC attempted to register with purposes including “to advance education in the field of human sexuality and Christian ethics”.
However, the tribunal found that the purpose of providing education to “persuade people to form specific conclusions” is “not ‘education’ in charity law”. Furthermore, it concluded IFTCC “undoubtedly had a political purpose to the extent that, for that reason alone, but not exclusively, it could not meet the tests to attract charitable status”.
The tribunal stated “there can be no presumption that a purpose of an institution of any particular description is for the public benefit”. It added that “what is for the public benefit is not fixed but may change over time”.
Links to NI ‘conversion therapy’ charity
IFTCC argued it should be registered in England and Wales because it was already registered as a charity in Northern Ireland. The tribunal said this was “an error”, because the charity in question is “another institution”, Core Issues Trust (CIT), which nevertheless has a “close connection” with IFTCC.
IFTCC is chaired by Mike Davidson, who is also a CIT trustee. CIT’s website says it works “in close association” with IFTCC.
CIT advocates what it calls “change orientated therapies” for people “who want to move away from homosexual feelings, behaviours and attractions”. In 2020, the NSS urged the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland to review CIT’s status as a registered charity, but the commission refused. The UN Human Rights Committee expressed concerns about this decision last year.
CIT is registered under the purpose of “the advancement of religion”, which is a recognised charitable purpose throughout the UK.
IFTCC and CIT have recently launched a project in Africa to help “church leaders to support those coming out of LGBT” and “work for transformation around sexual brokenness because we have sinned against the Lord almighty”.
Homophobia in religious charities
The NSS has reported many religious charities to regulators for promoting homophobia, including ideologies underpinning conversion practices.
Last month it reported the newly-registered C&S Akobi Olorun Restoration Ministry to the commission for comparing gay people to demons in a social media post. The Commission responded by giving the charity “advice and guidance”, but the post was not removed.
The commission refused to take action last year against another newly registered charity, Forward In Faith Church International Incorporated, which described the exorcism of a man possessed by a “homosexual spirit” as a “miracle”.
In 2022 the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) refused to take action against East Kilbride Christadelphian Ecclesia after it posted homophobic memes on its social media. It said it could not act because the views expressed in the posts “are in accordance with their religious beliefs”.
NSS: Religion “no excuse” for homophobia in charities
NSS head of campaigns Megan Manson welcomed the rejection of IFTCC’s appeal.
But she added: “This ruling should prompt an urgent review of other organisations seeking to exploit the charity sector to promote ‘conversion therapy’ and other homophobic ideologies.
“As the tribunal said, ideas about public benefit change over time. We now widely recognise that, far from being a public benefit, it is harmful to promote the idea that being gay is a sin and that one can and should seek rid themselves of same-sex attraction.
“We call on all charity regulators to make it clear that it is never acceptable for charities to promote conversion practices or other forms of homophobia – and religion is no excuse.”
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