Online fury at radio show’s ‘gay cure’ promotion

RTÉ’s God Slot radio programme was subjected to a wave of criticism last night after it posed a question on Twitter asking if “gays can be cured of being gay”.

The posting added: “Try The God Slot Fri. 17/01”.

Within less than an hour of the tweet, people had taken to the social media site in their hundreds to express their outrage at its inference.

“@TheGodSlot’s tweet upholds the idea that its ok to think of gay as an illness. Its not and its not up for discussion,” wrote one of the critics.

“Next up on @TheGodSlot: “can people be cured of their eye colour?” Sexual orientation is innate, not a choice or affliction #copyourselfon” wrote another.

Not long after it appeared, the tweet detailing the programme’s question was deleted, as was one reading: “Listen to the show before making judgments, or can questions not be posed in this age of fascism masquerading as liberalism?”

Another tweet then appeared which read: “Apologies if offended by a promo for @TheGodSlot tomorrow night The contributor refutes the value of any conversion therapy for gay people.”

Jerry Buttimer, the Cork South Central TD, who is the chair of Fine Gael’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Group, described as “offensive” any suggestion that someone could be or needed to be cured of being gay.

He said he hoped RTÉ would give people a right of reply to those who talked of converting gay people either during tonight’s broadcast or in a follow-up programme.

The God Slot describes itself as “RTÉ Radio One’s flagship religious current affairs programme”. It is broadcast on Friday nights and is presented by Eileen Dunne.