Gay People Who Have Suffered Through "Conversion Therapy", What's Your Story? 

I knew a straight guy who went to gay conversion therapy. Apparently when he was younger he showed feminine traits like playing dolls, speaking girly or smiling. His parents freaked out on him and sent him to a conversion therapy camp. The entire time he said he wasn’t gay but they ignored it and basically tortured him. When he “graduated” from the camp everyone was so proud of him. Although all it did was make him hate religion and his parents. He was never gay, not even a little, he just presented a bit feminine because he’s was small and thin. Probably because he was a child! Ironically it made him go from a believer to a non-believer so they did in fact convert something.

Anytime I hear about homophobia, it reminds me about Alan Turing. For those who don't know, Alan Turing was one of the codebreakers hired during World War II by the British Government to work on breaking the German Enigma code so we could decode their coded messages and get a leg up in the war efforts. He was a genius. But he was also gay, in a time when being gay was still considered a crime. And after the war, he was found out and arrested, and offered the choice of imprisonment or chemical castration (which is taking certain drugs to pretty much kill your sex drive). He chose the latter option, but alas the treatment also caused him to become incredibly depressed, and he took his own life. A pretty depressing end after all the work he did during the war. It was only in the last couple of years when the British Government offered an official apology for what happened.

This always brings to mind a sweet young man who was my student. He didn't dare even discuss homosexuality around his parents, much less that he himself was gay. His parents were nice people, but conservative and devoutly religious. They just wouldn't understand and certainly tell him to leave, if not disown him. They were completely brainwashed by their religion and social circle, so my student accepted the situation, wanting to respect them and be a part of the family. Like any teen, he wanted to be loved. There's no end to this-- a year later he died in his sleep of an aneurysm. Such a nice kid, he probably would have been happy their memories of him were what they wanted to believe. They lost him, if not one way, then another.

Before con. Camp: my kid is lgbtq+ After con. Camp: my kid is lgbtq+ and hates my guts for some reason

What blows my mind is how can someone force a loved one like that. If my son told me he was gay, I'd still accept him all the same. (Break his heart on the other hand and all bets are off) All I would ask in return is if he was doing it because he knew in his heart of hearts that that was who he truly is. Because that's the important thing. Do it for yourself, and keep it honest. But on the other hand, if my son came to me and told me of of any confusion. I'd drop everything to walk beside him to help him with his burden. Because the fascist who knocked my mother up never did that for me. FYI I'm straight but I always do it for me, my son, my gf, my grandies. And it's always honest, all the time.

I was almost sent to a camp but my parents where scared that if i went and came back not fixed that i would call the police and have them charged with child endangerment so instead the beat me and made me sleep outside for about a year i put up with it because if i did tell the cops what they where doing my brother and baby sister might be taken away and i was in no shape ready to take care of them when i turned 17 i had a surefire plan i finnaly told what they did ti the cops parents lost custody of all of us i didnt want my siblings to go into foster care so i asked my boyfriends mom if she could legally adopt them so yea thats my story.

When I first came out my parents sent me to a therapist to turn me straight She basically just told me I was fucking up my life and making god sad 2 sessions later she realized what she was doing for work was really fucked up She is now a therapist for gay kids that are going through homophobia at home Also my parents love my girlfriend ❤️ Oh also she’s now gay Kelly I’m happy we could help each other become happy in our own skin

This is why Conversion Thereapy is banned in Canada.

My sister came out as bisexual or lesbian I forgot but I said “I still love u for who u are, now get out Im playing GTA and strip club scene coming up” but I support LGBTQ+ community

I’m bisexual and have (ironically) had relationships with two gay men not long before they (and I) came out. One was a devoted Catholic whose family was well known in our church community. He confided in a youth leader that he thought he was gay, asking for guidance. At the time, one of our favorite pastors was accused of committing molestation years ago and was being investigated, so there was an imbalance of power and nature of mistrust. The leader told his parents who were initially not supportive. I had a crush on him and I told my mom (dumbest decision of my life). She messaged his parents to ask if he was single (one of the most embarrassing moment of my life), and they said yes. We started talking soon after and I think I was being pushed to hang out with him so he could “find the right girl”. About a month in, he told me he was questioning and I decided not to pursue further as to give him space to really digest his feelings. He came out a few months later, and I found out via Facebook so I am hoping his parents started to come around. Around that time, I was shortly “kicked out” of the group we were in for “turning 18” (I was told I couldn’t participate until I did sexual assault training and got fingerprinted, despite having just turned 18 and being around 15-17 year olds, one of whom was to turn 18 in a few months as well. Also, they told me this 3 months AFTER my 18th birthday). I left that church entirely and now am agnostic. I haven’t looked at his profile or reached out since but from what I know, he’s doing well and is much happier as an out gay man.

I dont understand how some of these kids can still look at their parents without feeling nothing but hate for putting them through a torture camp. It's okay to be mad at the people who helped to hurt you just because of who you are. Be resentful. You can forgive them sure but dont forget they hurt you. Not to save you but to save face.

Anyone who has been through these horrific experiences, my mom would like to adopt you and press charges against the camps.

Alpaca approuves this video !

Homosexuality is natural and is found in thousands of different animal species

i went to conversion therapy, two different therapists, for a year. ended up the worst i'd ever been

In the original Bible that is in the Israel language that they speak it is a translation error where it suppose to say man shouldn't sleep with child or something within the the statement of that

Wow this is the most depressing infuriating thread ever. I’m straight though I went to a period of questioning in college. I made a post on fb on coming out day saying I was straight but open. My mom texted me asking if I was sure about this. I said I’d given it a lot of thought and that was the last I heard of it. I took the post down a year or two later because it didn’t apply quite as much and I didn’t want to insult any of my truly LGBTQ friends. It’s been established that if my sister or I came out as gay or trans or whatever to my parents that they would accept it. And for that I’m grateful. I would never ever put any kids I might have down the line through this. And if they had any friends who’s parents cast them out for being gay I’d do what I could to help and support them.

Son: dad I am gay Me: .... Son: I know its hard for you but I... Me: WHAT THE FUCK I AM GOING TO DO WITH ALL THAT HENTAI I BOUGHT YOU??!

I underwent Conversion Therapy. I can now operate on AC or 4 D batteries.

"Okay, and still gay". Love it!

Crazy how all the love of your own child and all the good memories can just be thrown out the window and you’d threaten them all because “the Bible says it’s wrong” yeah well the Bible also says it’s wrong for women to teach to divorce and to tolerate disabled people. Besides the verse wasn’t even about same gender dating it was about adults and kids shouldn’t date!!! 🤦🏻‍♀️

I know one who said it was like what the Nazis did at there camps They all got beaten everyday He moved country because of it

3:43 My experience was very similar to this one. My very catholic parents discovered I was gay at 14 when they read the messages I had with my online boyfriend of that time (which I get it's worrysome for someone that age to have an online relationship, but they were far more concerned of the fact it was another boy). After being super mad at me and telling me they were dissapointed at me and denying I was gay at all even after confessing myself, they arranged an emergency appointment with my psychologist the very next day. I couldn't even speak in that session as I was having a panic attack, but "confessed what I did" at the end. He was really chill and supportive, and told me I had nothing to cure. Bc at the time I was a minor, he talked to my parents at the end of the session and tried to convinced them to accept me for who I am, but they refused and I never went back with that psychologist. Then the real conversion therapy starts after this. Both my parents are very catholic and are very involved in church activities, so they know many priests. One of them happened to have studied Psychology and helped in a rehab center. So my parents arranged an appointment with him for me. Luckily I wasn't electroshocked, chemically treated or even physically abused, but I received a lot of negative affirmations that wouldn't do anything to me nowadays, but really affected 14 year old me. He told me God didn’t hate me, but hated my condition, that He would never let me in in heaven if I don't sincerely changed, that gay people will never be happy cuz they have "something rotting inside them", that my family and extended family will never accept such sick thing, that I must have been 4bused as a child for being like that, and more weird, even compared me being gay to a hypothetical situation of my dad cheating my mom with him, another man (???? I still weird out to that). One thing that really stucked with me was that in one session, he invited a patient from that center that he claimed was a "former gay" to share his experience with me. He was a man in his 40/50s and told me his honestly sad life. He always knew he was different cause he liked men, he said he felt left out when his cousins and siblings brought their couples to family parties cuz he knew he could never do that. He cut his relationship with his family to live as his real self. He had many abusive boyfriends along the way that damaged him in so many ways. He had not any support network as he cut his family and friends. He fell in alcoholism and drvgs and even had to sell his body for money. Then he came to that center to rehab himself and "discovered" that being gay was the root of his problems. He claims he could never cure his gay away, and might never will, but that I can cause I'm still young and "being married to a woman is such a beautiful thing, just try it and don't make the same mistake I did". He looked very sad and desperate, and it really affected me and ended up internalising so many negative stuff about me, I couldn't even say the word gay or homosexual without feeling anxious. I couldn't go with that priest bc of his schedule, but I went to other 2 conversion psycologists. The thing with conversion therapy is that even though it is now illegal in my country, there are so many centers. It is almost never advertised, they offer this kind of service under the table and only by word of mouth in religious circles. One of those psychologists is even a very recognised one and has a tv show. I could sue for them to not hurt more people, but I don't have neither the money nor the enough real evidences to run a case against them. At the end, I could heal many of that negative affirmations and beliefs with another psychologist I found myself. My relationship with my parents is not bad, but not with the trust I wish we had. They definetely know I'm still gay. They don't bother me anymore for convert to be straight or talking ill about gay people, and I don't tell them about my life neither the guys I date. It's like a mutual agreement of letting each other be. I would love things to be different, but I would rather be left alone until I find my own place and then tell them. I wouldn't mind if they discover I'm mostly openly gay, but I don't want to bother with their homophobia.

whats worng with being gay

2:06 Man that one is almost the same as me except the copycat behavior

If some asshole tries this to do this to someone when I'm in the room: **, GET THE F****ING MACHINE GUN!!!**

I will probably never understand why some people hate lgbtq+ people the way they swing doesn’t effect you so why care? For the record I’m lqbtq+ myself (ace)

"I am gay. Help me avoid temptation."😂🤣 Horribly abusive to make a kid hold such a sign in public. But I pictured an openly gay dude from high school in that situation and choked on my pasta in laughter.

If I had a kid that came out, I'd hug them and thank them for their bravery. Then I'd ask what their plans are for giving me grand kids. But only in a half kidding manner. Before asking them to introduce me to their SO.

pls don't think were all bad im bi and conservative so pls know were not all about anti-gay

There's a wikipedia context window???

Y'all should watch But I'm A Cheerleader

Never went to a camp myself but was forced to do "christian counseling" I can't remember much mostly on the factor that my brain put a mental block on that time period. All i remember is the sheer uncomfortability. Like, to a perverted degree.

My partner and I came out in late 1970's and early 80's. My parents were not supportive, but my Dad finally came around. When we were living in Los Angeles, we met a wonderful young gay man who had been thrown out by his parents at the age of 14 for being gay. He fled to Los Angeles, where he became a prostitute, because there was literally no other job he could get to support himself at age 14. He was HIV-negative until his partner died of it, and then he felt such horrible survivor guilt he deliberately shared needles with a HIV-positive person because he did not feel he could go on without his partner. As he lay dying in the hospital, his parents refused to come visit him. My partner and I went to visit him, but we were not allowed into his hospital room because we weren't family, according to the hospital. I always have believed it was homophobia that killed him.

Welcome to the USA, the country where child torture is legal in about half of the states.

I know the polar opposite of Gay Conversion Camps: Federal Prison.

I wonder how many of these parents are religious? Good Christian’s are particularly judgemental of being gay. Ticks me off

Man damn....it....this is all sad.

i had resiliently found out that i am pansexual and i knew that i am polyamorous and now im dating 3 people and my grand parents only know about one of them

If gay's your way, that's okay.

I think the reason god does nothing about it is because he no longer or has not cared for a while and just expressed that he didn't INTEND for it to happen, but knew it would.

Proof, if proof be needed, that religion, hate and ignorance are always walking together.

When you’re bicurious

I expected better from religious people. It's disgusting how they try to force others to be like them and claim to go by their sacred scripts (I know some religious people are great and I appreciate them for it. You guys are awesome to accept others for who they are)

For all those who survived ex gay therapy treat yourself to the movie XY & ZEE starring Elizabeth Taylor, Michael Cane and Susannah York.

The whole thing about gay couples having multiple anniversary's is so fucked up. My aunt's have had like 6 different marriages to each other just cause things kept changing. And we are in CA

As a boy who has a boyfriend, I wish everyone here eternal happiness 💖

Okay. Am not a big fan of these blokes (well... actually I don't care, just big corp pls don't shove the adverts down my throat thanks) but dang, maybe (no, CERTAINLY) they're as human as any straight person and it shouldn't be ok to put someone through free PTSD at whatever young age these people were sent to such camps?

I got sent to similar camps almost every summer from about age 10 until I got my first serious girlfriend in high school; turns out they were worried about the wrong thing, because I'm a trans lesbian rather than a cis gay man. Oops!

i have a feeling that if he could get away with it (my mom and his gf would raise hell) that he would send me to conversion therapy

Yeah, imma stay in the closest

17:38

Too many goddamn ads!!!

They marry Kaitlyn Bennett

"Frapwusinos"

I hate this. I'm Christian. We have LGBT members in my youth group and while many of us disagree with the lifestyle we still love them. These people who claim to be Christian yet pull this... we don't claim them.

Pansexual and Bisexual people laughing...

You cant choose who youre attracted to, but you can choose whether or not you have gay sex.

God dont make junk !

Who cares?

Frappuckseeno