Without warning, Facebook has permanently deleted the Core Issues Trust page, claiming that the charity is in breach of its community standards. Since June 2020, the page has received repeated, malicious interference from LGBT activists who will not recognise those who formerly identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered. During this time, Facebook did not act in response to the vile language, explicit imagery and threats against the charity and its employees, even though their personal safety has been put at risk.
In 2014, the Court of Appeal found in the charity’s favour against the Mayor of London (CIT vs Transport for London and Another) with regard to discrimination. The Court held that under the Equality Act 2010, former LGBT identified persons are protected against discrimination:
Discrimination against a person because of his or her past actual or perceived sexual orientation, or because his or her sexual orientation has changed, is discrimination "because of…sexual orientation".[1]
We call on fair-minded politicians, to review the unfair practices of Facebook in removing entirely legal viewpoints, that do not accord with that organisation’s political ethos. Unpublishing pages and deleting all private ongoing communications and content, is unacceptable. Our organisation has been bullied consistently and subjected to false allegations that it engages in “conversion therapy”, in part the result of careless statements from politicians and activists. This is entirely false. At the time the campaign against us was reported to the Petitions Committee: Submissions for written evidence – online abuse, in Serious Incident reports to the Charity Commission of Northern Ireland and to the Northern Ireland Police (PSNI).
We operate according to clear ethical and practice guidelines as outlined in the CIT Safeguarding Document[2], recommended by the Charity Commission of Northern Ireland and work collegially with others through the International Federation for Therapeutic and Counselling Choice.
Facebook appears to be promoting (albeit indirectly) a political viewpoint that actively discriminates against persons who are formerly LGBT and the organisations that support them. It’s time that Facebook was called to account in the UK and recognised for what it is: an intolerant publishing house and campaign group.
Core Issues Trust will continue to platform the voices of those[3] who with free conscience express the transformation they experience and the Christian convictions that are important to them and protected by Article 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights[4].
Further Information:
Dr Mike Davidson, CEO: 07833098998
mike.davidson@core-issues.org
Belfast 18th February 2021
[1] Paragraph 98, 2014 Core Issues Trust vs Transport for London & Another, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and Minister of Women and Equalities: https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2014/34.htm
