A Christian group has today received notice from Vue International cinema cancelling the premiere of their film “Voices of the Silenced: Experts, Evidences and Ideologies”, which had been scheduled to take place at the Vue Cinema, Piccadilly Circus, at 7pm tomorrow evening.
Core Issues Trust, which produced the film, is the only registered charity offering therapeutic support for those with unwanted homosexual feelings.
The charity first booked the screening with Vue in November 2017, but it was only today that Vue sent Dr Michael Davidson, the head of Core Issues Trust, an email cancelling the performance. Vue cited a clause in their contract that says Vue has “the right to refrain from providing screening services up to the point of any pre-booked screening”, and that they “will not be able to fulfil the final terms of the agreement.”
The documentary, due to be attended by people from all over the world, was filmed over two years in eight countries and tells the stories of fifteen individuals who moved away from homosexual practices and highlights the difficulties they have faced. Voices of the Silenced challenges the closedown of the debate about the value of therapeutic support to these people in ways that are respectful of clients and individual rights to change.
The Christian Legal Centre, which is supporting Core Issues Trust in this matter, is considering filing for an injunction at the High Court, as well as taking action against Vue under the Equality Act 2010.
Responding to the news, Mike Davidson said: “this is a very important film raising public awareness about difficult issues faced by a whole category of vulnerable people, and we are very disappointed that the screening has been cancelled at the last moment”.
Andrea Minichiello Williams, CEO of the Christian Legal Centre, said:
“Ironically, the actions of PinkNews and Vue cinema illustrate the point of the film. The Voices of the Silenced are, in fact, being silenced.”
“This is fundamentally a free speech issue. As usual, a minority of gay activists use threats and intimidation to shut down any opposing views. Tragically, they can’t tolerate the truth that there are significant numbers of men and women who have no wish to remain in a gay lifestyle and seek help to leave it.”
“At the moment we intend to go to the cinema tomorrow and we intend to watch the film. We intend to encourage everyone that has a ticket to turn up.”