Coronation Street star slams gay ‘conversion therapy’ amid dramatic storyline
James Cartwright as Theo (L) and Gareth Pierce as Todd in Coronation Street. (ITV)
James Cartwright as Theo (L) and Gareth Pierce as Todd in Coronation Street. (ITV)
Coronation Street star James Cartwright, who plays Weatherfield’s newly-out gay resident Theo, has blasted ‘conversion therapy’ while praising the show’s handling of the topic.
In the long-running soap Cartwright plays Theo Silverton, a married builder who engages in a romance with Todd Grimshaw (Gareth Pierce). He’s now trying to work things out with Todd after leaving his wife, Danielle (Natalie Anderson).
However, one thing that might get in the way of things is Theo’s religious background, which unfortunately has involved him being sent to ‘conversion therapy’.
The debunked and abusive medical practices aim to forcibly change someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
Speaking to Radio Times recently, Cartwright said it was “a really cool thing” for Corrie to tackle the topic head on. “I’m very proud and privileged and honoured to be on the Street, full stop,” he added.
He also said: “I didn’t know conversion therapy [was] even a thing. I mean, my version of that was a sort of American. So, it’s a real thing, and it’s very bad.
“And you don’t choose your sexuality in any way more than you choose your hair colour, your eye colour and your height, it’s ridiculous.”
In a separate interview with Digital Spy on the topic, the actor described ‘conversion therapy’ as “archaic.”
He also said: “It’s like anything in life – things can be explained to you, but understanding [and processing] them is a different thing. Because his parents were privy to the conversion therapy, it’s a much bigger thing.
“If you start to unpack that as a thing, fully, you go, ‘Okay, my mom and dad, the Church, all my friends who I grew up with [and] the family friends are complicit’. I think he knows it wasn’t okay, but he also has to process it for himself – he wants to just be happy.”
Here in the UK we are still waiting on a ban on ‘conversion therapy’. First promised in 2018 by then Prime Minister Theresa May efforts to enact legislation banning it have ultimately failed so far.
Last year the government said it was prioritising a full, trans-inclusive ban on conversion therapy, as part of a major change in equality policies.
However anything since then has been less than forthcoming.
Coronation Street continues on Wednesday 4 June at 8pm on ITV.
