The UK Health Advisor Who Thinks Gay People Are Destructive and Unhealthy

By Michael A. Jones -

Meet Dr. Hans-Christian Raabe, a doctor in the United Kingdom who was just named to a prominent government advisory committee. Generally speaking, health professionals being appointed to government boards wouldn't attract all that much attention. But then again, most health professionals don't have views on homosexuality like Dr. Raabe.
Dr. Raabe is a member of a religious movement that believes homosexuality is destructive and unhealthy, and that gay people can be cured. He's coordinator of a group known as the Council for Health and Wholeness (CHW), which believes in a host of controversial (and not terribly scientifically sound) theories about homosexuality. Among the more frightening nuggets?
"The media and the gay movement portray the homosexual lifestyle as happy, healthy and fulfilled. However, the homosexual lifestyle is associated with a large number of very serious physical and emotional health consequences," says a CHW document authored by Dr. Raabe himself.
And there's plenty more.
In another document, Dr. Raabe notes: "A high proportion of homosexual men engage in a destructive lifestyle."
And then comes the real kicker. This professional, who now sits on a prominent UK advisory board, believes that there's a tie between homosexuality and pedophilia. In a paper that Dr. Raabe co-authored, the medicine man describes gay people as having a penchant for abusing children.
"It is of grave concern that there is a disproportionately greater number of homosexuals among pedophiles and an overlap between the gay movement and the movement to make pedophilia acceptable," Dr. Raabe noted in the piece.
So Dr. Raabe believes homosexuality can be cured. He believes that LGBT people are destructive. He believes that most pedophiles are gay. And for all of that, he's rewarded by the UK government with a plum position on a health advisory board. Say what?
That has at least one UK lawmaker crying foul.
"It is an absolute outrage that Theresa May [Home Secretary and Minister for Women and Equalities] has appointed someone with such horrific opinions to this senior role advising the Tory-led government," said Bridget Phillipson, a Member of Parliament from the Labour Party. “Her decision raises serious questions about judgement and whether she is fulfilling her role as minister for equalities effectively.”
You could say that again. Dr. Raabe, for his part, insists that his views on homosexuality won't impact his ability to serve on this governmental health board. "This is an appointment regarding drug policy and what views I may or may not have on homosexuality are irrelevant," he says.
Hardly. In fact, one could argue that Dr. Raabe's complete abdication of sound science and fact in favor of socially conservative religious principles that dictate his views on homosexuality should be red flag number one that this person is ill-qualified for a job advising government on health policy. Just what were government officials thinking?
Send Theresa May and the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs a message that you expect their health professionals to stick to science, not anti-gay dogma, in their research. Ask them to explain why a doctor who believes homosexuality is destructive, disordered and in need of a cure gets a plum spot on a government oversight committee.

petition text -

Don't reward doctors who believe gay people are destructive and can be cured

Dear UK Home Office, Minister May, and the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs,

I recently learned about the controversial appointment of Dr. Hans-Christian Raabe to a health advisory board in the United Kingdom, and am particularly concerned about Dr. Raabe's controversial views on homosexuality. These views not only fly in the face of science, but they call into question the ability of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs to serve all people in the UK.

In numerous articles and written work, Dr. Raabe has called homosexuality "destructive," and suggested that gay people can be cured. A few statements from papers authored or co-authored by Dr. Raabe:

-- "The media and the gay movement portray the homosexual lifestyle as happy, healthy and fulfilled. However, the homosexual lifestyle is associated with a large number of very serious physical and emotional health consequences."

-- "A high proportion of homosexual men engage in a destructive lifestyle."

-- "It is of grave concern that there is a disproportionately greater number of homosexuals among pedophiles and an overlap between the gay movement and the movement to make pedophilia acceptable."

These types of statements are dangerous, harmful, contrary to science, and they should not be rewarded by the UK government. Yet, by appointing someone with beliefs like this to a prominent advisory board, the UK government is sending the message that views like this are acceptable. That's unfortunate, and a disservice to all constituents.

I urge you to condemn Dr. Raabe's views on homosexuality, and see to it that all physicians on your board adhere to science, and not anti-gay religious dogma in their work. It is truly unacceptable that a health professional with views like this has been rewarded with a position on the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.

Thanks for your time.

[Your name here] 

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