A former University of Bristol professor who believes homosexual feelings can be changed or ‘managed’, has been appointed to the panel that chooses the next Archbishop of Canterbury.

Glynn Harrison, Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry who has now retired from the University, co-authored the 2011 title Unwanted Same-sex Attraction: Issues of Pastoral and Counselling, published by the Christian Medical Fellowship. It argues that ‘people with unwanted SSA [same-sex attraction] who seek to live in conformity with their beliefs should be free to receive appropriate and responsible practical care and counsel.

‘Most may choose counselling and pastoral support to maintain, within a Christian framework, the disciplines of chastity. Others may wish to explore the possibility of achieving some degree of change in the strength or direction of unwanted sexual interests.’

Gus Baker, UBU president, told Epigram, ‘Falsely claiming that homosexuality can be somehow “cured”is a grotesque insult to the hundreds of LGBT students we have at the University of Bristol. Glynn Harrison is an embarrassment to our University and should seek therapy to cure himself of his outdated bigotry.’

Calum Sherwood, LGBT part-time officer, branded Harrison’s association with the university ‘utterly disgraceful.’

‘I do not think the university is living up to its commitment to LGBT students or broader tolerance by providing a platform for people like Glynn Harrison to spread bigotry and hate speech, while not employing a single academic with a specialism in Queer Theory.

‘I expect the university to either revoke his title or issue a statement condemning Glynn Harrison’s views’, he said.

A statement released by the Church of England Press Office asserts, ‘Professor Harrison does not believe in concepts of ‘gay cure’ or ‘gay conversion’ and has never been involved in offering any formal counselling or ‘therapy’ in this area himself.’

The statement goes on to state that Harrison believes ‘there is considerable anecdotal evidence in popular media, as well as in the research literature, of people who experience varying degrees of change in the pattern of their sexual attractions.’

According to the statement Harrison also recognises that some people of faith who experience bisexual or same- sex attractions ‘may choose a form of counselling support called “gay affirmative therapy”.’

Harrison also urges ‘considerable caution’ with such counselling techniques due to the lack of evidence detailing ‘whether such approaches are effective or not.’ Nevertheless, he supports those who want to ‘manage’ or ‘integrate’ sexual feelings ‘within the framework of religious identity grounded in the traditional teaching of their faith.’

Harrison is, however, involved with the charity True Freedom Trust, which believes any gay sexual relationship ‘falls short of God’s plan for His creation.’ According to its website it aims to help Christians ‘who struggle with same-sex attractions.’

Reviewing a submission of Harrison’s in a book called ‘The Anglican Community and Homosexuality’ in 2008, Michael King, Professor of Primary Care Psychiatry at University College London said;

‘[Harrison’s work] is of much lower quality. Here we have an academic psychiatrist bending over backwards to suggest, on the basis of the weakest sort of evidence, that sexual orientation can be changed. I suspect if he were reviewing evidence of similar quality for the efficacy of a new medication he would dismiss it out of hand.‘

A statement released by the university disowned Harrison’s views, stating, ‘Professor Glynn Harrison is no longer a current memberofstaffattheUniversity of Bristol and so any views he has expressed are his own and not those of the University.’