Treatments of homosexuality in Britain since the 1950s--an oral history: the experience of patients

doi:10.1136/bmj.37984.442419.EE

BMJ, doi: 10.1136/bmj.37984.442419.EE, (Published 29 January 2004)

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Treatments of homosexuality in Britain since the 1950s--an oral history: the experience of patients

Glenn Smith ¹, Annie Bartlett ², Michael King ¹

¹ Department of Mental Health Sciences, Royal Free and University College School of Medicine, Royal Free Campus, London NW3 2PF
² Department of Psychiatry, St George's Hospital Medical School, Jenner Wing, London SW17 0RE

Objectives To investigate the circumstances since the 1950sin which people who were attracted to members of the same sexreceived treatments to change their sexual orientation, thereferral pathway and the process of therapy, and its aftermath.

DesignA nationwide study based on qualitative interviews.

Participants29 people who had received treatments to change their sexualorientation in the United Kingdom and two relatives of formerpatients.

Results Most participants had been distressed by theirattraction to their own sex and people in whom they confidedthought they needed treatment. Although some participants choseto undergo treatments instead of imprisonment or were encouragedthrough some form of medical coercion, most were respondingto complex personal and social pressures that discouraged anyexpression of their sexuality. While many participants foundhappiness in same sex relationships after their treatment, mostwere left feeling emotionally distressed to some degree.

ConclusionThe definition of same sex attraction as an illness and thedevelopment of treatments to eradicate such attraction havehad a negative long term impact on individuals.

(Accepted 2 December 2003)

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