Holy Fuck

Via Ex-Gay Watch. A 16 year-old boy in Bartlett, Tennessee named Zach recently came out of the closet to his parents. Their reaction was to send him to Love in Action, a live-in program designed to change homosexuals to heterosexuals. Zach is being forced into this program against his will.

Of course, no evidence exists that proves that reparative therapy actually works. In fact, given the high rates of depression and suicide attempts by those who have been through it, the process does more harm than good. If a consenting adult chooses to enter into such a program, that is their decision to make. However, forcing an unwilling adolescent into this is horrible, and is just inviting psychological damage.

In a blog entry, Zach posted some rules of the program he would soon be sent to. These had been sent to his parents via email, and were not intended to be known by participants in the program.

- Participants are not allowed to speak to anyone (even parents) for the first two days.
- Kids are not allowed to keep a journal or diary.
- They are not allowed to discuss the program and what goes on in it with anyone, not even family.
- They are allowed no physical contact with another person except for handshakes and pats on the shoulder, and only when approved.
- The are only allowed to listen to approved, Christian music. Bach and Beethoven are not considered Christian, and are therefor forbidden.
- They are not allowed to speak after 9 p.m. for any reason.
- They may be placed in a state of isolation in which they have no contact with anyone.
- Permission is needed to watch television, go online, read books, and make/receive phone calls from friends and family.
- Entering non-Christian book stores, music stores, and any restaurant that serves alcohol is forbidden.

Director John Smid has been reported as saying, "I would rather you commit suicide than have you leave Love In Action wanting to return to the gay lifestyle. In a physical death you could still have a spiritual resurrection; whereas, returning to homosexuality you are yielding yourself to a spiritual death from which there is no recovery." Please note that this is just hearsay from an ex-ex-gay person that hasn't been confirmed. Smid has denied ever saying this, although I admit that that doesn't convince me. And if he did say this (or something very similar) then I am very, very afraid for Zach and the other kids forced through this program.

In another disturbing bit of information, only two (!) staff members at Love in Action have college degrees in a field related to counseling. Truth be told, this doesn't seem to be all that unusual in reparative therapy programs.

Also, Mike Ditto makes a list of Love in Action rules and how they resemble cult rules.

You know, I hear people bash liberals and hippies all the time. After hearing stories like this, though, I would never give up my old-hippie parents for anything. They're not perfect, but at least they love and accept me for who I am. Coming out of the closet didn't change our relationship at all.

So I don't care what anyone else thinks. Thank the gods for hippies. And I pray that these kids emerge from this hate, fear, and ignorance filled program with their souls intact.