Vue Cinemas pay nominal amount to gay ‘cure’ group after banning film screening
The cinema chain refused to show the pro-gay 'cure' movie 'Voices of the Silenced'
By Steve Brown
Vue Cinemas have paid a settlement to gay ‘cure’ advocates after they decided to ban screen a film which promotes gay conversion therapy.
Back in February, the evangelical group the Core Issues Trust were planning to hold a screening of a film which advocated gay conversion therapy at the branch in London’s Piccadilly Circus.
However, the screening was cancelled by the cinema chain after it was deemed to be “in direct contradiction to Vue’s values”.
But the group vowed to pursue legal action against Vue Cinemas and garnered support from the Christian Legal Centre – which is connected to the anti-LGBT fundamentalist group Christian Concern.
Now, Vue Cinemas have reportedly agreed to settle the case for a “nominal amount” after they admitted they breached their contract.
A spokesperson told PinkNews: “Vue firmly stands by its decision to cancel the screening of Voices of the Silenced which was in direct conflict to our values.
“The claim made relates simply to a technical breach of contract because of the late cancellation of the screen booking and was for a nominal amount.
“This has nothing to do with freedom of expression laws.”
Mike Davidson, of the Core Issues Trust, said he was delighted that “freedom of expression” won.
He said: “I am delighted that freedom of expression has won today.
“We worked hard to create Voices of the Silenced because we believe that it contains a very important, highly-relevant message – people can change.
“This population have been failed by Mental Health Services because they are denied professional counselling respectful of their world view.
“Vue Cinemas has recognised that it was wrong to block us from showing the film. I hope that in future they won’t fold under pressure from LGBT activists who want to suppress the voices of those who want to move away from same-sex attraction and behaviour.”
Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, added: “People like Mike need to be heard loudly and clearly in the current debate on sexuality and gender.
“Their experiences simply don’t fit in with current LGBT ideology and narratives which claim that it’s impossible for someone’s sexual attraction to change.”
“LGBT activists shouldn’t be allowed to define or deny other people’s life experiences or squeeze them out of the public debate.
“It is not compassionate to allow LGBT ideology to go unchallenged, nor to prevent people who want to see change in their lives from seeking help.
“I hope that the government starts to listen to the voices of people like Mike before pursuing any attacks on the freedom of people with same-sex attraction to seek change.”