While a government may be engaged in a variety of different aspects of a country, one of its main roles is to provide citizens and anyone in the country with protection. Those who need most protection are the weak and the vulnerable, who may or may not be able to navigate through life due to their vulnerability.

Passing laws to prohibit discrimination is part of this. People who form part of minorities are especially vulnerable because they are surrounded by the majority, which has often in the past trampled over the rights of others, and oppressed and repressed those they do not understand or identify with.

While I have mostly dedicated articles to tackling the issue of discrimination based on someone’s skin colour or religion, it is important not to forget that there are people who are discriminated against based on other factors, like gender, language, and sexuality.

The Church has recently voiced its objection to the banning of conversion therapy, claiming that it is undemocratic, since in a free country everyone has the right to seek whatever help they want. But the Church has failed to recognise the damage that such ‘therapies’ cause.

The Church-appointed experts did not acknowledge the true extent to which a young gay teenager may hate himself, nor did they identify the reasons why this may be the case, or why anyone would seek these forms of therapy to begin with. Their failure to mention this aspect belies a blinkered view of the issue.

It is now a firmly established fact that sexuality cannot be changed. Being gay is not an illness, and while there are many campaigns to raise funds to develop a cure for illnesses like cancer, not one doctor or scientist is currently engaged in developing a pill to ‘cure’ homosexuality. This is a fact that is often very difficult for a young teenager who has just realised he is gay to accept, as they go about hiding their true identity.

The Church appointed experts did not acknowledge the true extent to which a young gay teenager may hate himself

Discovering that you are homosexual can be quite scary, depending on the environment you live in. The sharp and biting comments passed by your peers can drive you to deep and painful self-loathing, which can result in self-harm, depression and in some cases suicide.

And yes, you are around 12 to 13 years old when you start dealing with this. This is what drives someone to seek ‘gay conversion therapy’. This feeling may well continue into adulthood, and becomes far more complex when you deny yourself what is ultimately one of the most glorious and enjoyable aspects of being human.

It is this vulnerability that gay conversion ‘therapists’ use to their advantage and exploit, regardless of the all-round negative impact they will have on that person’s mental well-being. This ban is not just a ban on such exploitation, but a clear message to all LGBT citizens that if they are struggling, they should seek professional help that will lead them to accept and love themselves, not send them further down the path of self-destruction.

However, this ban serves another purpose. While in Malta these ‘pray the gay away’ groups are quite benign, albeit still harmful, without this ban Malta may still be left open to other more extreme versions of this unethical practice.

Known as ‘Ex-Gay Ministries’, found mainly in the US, they employ much harsher ‘treatment’ which include electric shock therapy, and even mock exorcisms with participants forced to vomit out the ‘evil demons’ causing their homosexuality.

Yes, some may hate themselves so much they would voluntarily subject themselves to such things. Does the Church think it is normal to want to go to such a place? The message that gay conversation therapy sends is a shame-producing message that hits at the heart of a human life. Shouldn’t the Church be in favour of efforts to stop such a message? At this point in time the best thing a gay teenager can do is ignore the Church.

While it is an institution that does good in the world, it is also wrong on this matter, and has been for some time now. What the Church says and does is the Church’s prerogative, but the State should live up to its obligation to protect its citizens from being targeted when they are at their most vulnerable.

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