US gay ‘cure’ psychologist Nicolosi to speak in London

A controversial American psychologist who says he can 'cure' homosexuality is preparing to address audiences at a conference in London this weekend. Dr Joseph Nicolosi is heading the bill at the two-day 'Sex in the City' conference being held at a secret London location.

The event has been slammed by doctors and gay rights groups who have questioned the scientific validity of Nicolosi's claims and accuse him of homophobia.

Organised by a Anglican Mainstream, a Christian organisation "committed to the traditional biblical teaching on marriage, the family and human sexuality" and billed as a must-see for "clergy, rabbis, psychologists, therapists and educators", attendees will also hear from other controversial figures, including Arthur Goldberg, writer of Light in the Closet: Torah, Homosexuality, and the Power to Change.

Dr Nicolosi says he has been helping to "increase the heterosexual potential" of two out of three men for the past 25 years. The 62-year-old former president of the National Association for the Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (Narth) is an advocate and practitioner of 'reparative therapy', which claims to help people overcome or reduce unwanted homosexual feelings. He has written three books on the subject with the fourth, entitled Shame, Homosexuality and the Practical Work of Reparative Therapy due to be released this year.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists said there is no evidence to suggest that a person's sexual orientation can be changed and pointed out that the American Psychiatric Association ruled this in 1973 when it removed homosexuality from its diagnostic glossary of mental disorders.

Meanwhile, the Lesbian and Gay Foundation voiced its concerns about the effect of the conference.

A spokesperson for the foundation said: "It is worrying to hear of this conference aimed at promoting such a deplorable and dangerous approach to therapy, and giving a platform to homophobic ideas."