It Gets Better: Mathew in NYC (I Survived "Conversion" Therapy) 

great video Matt! You really are blessed you came through this and are here to give encouragement to others. Thanks for sharing your story.

Thank you for sharing your story!

It's great that you saw the light and got out of that terrible situation; unfortunately those 5 years you can't ever get back so I applaud you for standing up for yourself and warning others who may have been thinking of undoing such draconian treatment not to. As others have said, you're a beautiful, and sexy, man with a beautiful soul.

Thank you everyone for all of your responses, the last few days have been nothing but magical. There is so much support our there in the world. Thank you. Together we can all make a difference. The greatest gift of life, is being who you are.

Thanks for sharing yourself, open up this conversation and the difference you make with your video in the world, awesome!!!

Thank you so much for sharing your story with us.

Great video! Thanks for sharing your story.

I 'm proud of you for getting through that with your humor and grace intact. Thanks for posting.

Your story means so much. I had to go through something similar and I know how hard it is to recover from those kinds of therapies. Thank you so much for sharing.

Amazing story, Mathew. Thank you for sharing.

wow, what an amazing spirit. totally beautiful inside and out. made me tingle with joy

thank you for sharing your story Mathew take care xxx

thank you

Matthew, You express yourself well, and your story matters. Thank you for sharing it. Also remember, the struggles you were forced to go through to become clear for yourself will have yielded gifts, and those gifts are important, too. You are on the right track.

Thank you for telling your story, and for having the strength to survive to live happily as who you are and were meant to be.

Thank you for sharing this. It's a great encouragement for everyone. You're a very handsome man who deserves the best.

Thank you Matthew for sharing a very personal experience. I read your story on AOL and search your video on Google. I hope your inspirational message will make a difference in others who is questioning their identity. I wish there were more positive reinforcements videos like yours 20 years ago. A million heart-felt thanks.

Mathew, you are a beautiful soul. Thank you for having the courage to share your story with the world.

I acknowledge Mathew for who you are and being courageous about sharing authentically about yourself. Action I am taking is Acknowledging you right away. I can see the freedom and happiness on your face.

I'm still waiting on that day, when things will get better. Thank you for sharing this, sincere salutations to you.

THANK YOU MATHEW!!!!

I am glad you are still "here" with us Matthew. Thank you for your smile, for BEING you. To any one who is LGBTQ, Be Who You Are in the moment, in the hour, in the day, in the week, month and year. Be kind to yourself and to those around you. Remember to smile even if you don't want to.

thank you Matthew for haring your story. It's very important to see that repair "therapy" haven't shut down your smile and your love for life. I think you are a great example for gay guys in trouble with their sexuality or with parents pushing for therapy. great job, man!

I just read your article. www.landmarkworldwide.com/why-landmark/news/news-archives/did-conversion-therapy-for-5-years It was incredibly moving. Thank you for sharing your story and changing the world. It really takes something to be a BOLD LEADER in the face of no agreement. You are strong, courageous, effective and so loving.

Thank you, Mathew. You're beautiful. You're who you are!

Thank You for sharing your experience, we generally know little about these "therapy" treatments, so it's good to get to know people who are/were in them, and to see that they can come out of them and start their real life! :D

love this

Lots of love to you, Matthew!

Gorgeous man, how could anyone ever think there was anything wrong with you? Live long and prosper xxx

You're amazing Matt! greetings from Latin America.

Mat, your the best!!

you're such beautiful and stronger person! i hope this words makes strong people who watch the video! RISE AGAIN!!!

Mathew, when I came out my sweetheart and I were given the reparative therapy. My sweetheart caved in, and went off to become "straight". Last I heard he was a wife beating violent bully, and child abuser. I went your route, and resisted, and came out the other side. I am now 52 years old. Don't be surprised if you get some flash backs along the way, but don't ever loose heart. The most wonderful loves and friendships are ahead of you.

I'm just 19 years old, and I want to tell you all that life definitely does get better! Thanks for the video bro, keep it up! And you know what, you're cute. lol P.S.: Life is What You Make It.

Hi Matthew. Great video and inspirational to young people who are being forced by their parents to go through ex-gay "therapy" to go from gay to straight. Thank you for coming forward and sharing. You are good Matt, you are good :)

Thank you for sharing your difficult journey. I had a similar experience. Conversion Therapy is flawed at best and downright dishonest at worst. They took advantage of you and your father. You have every right to be angry with them. Be Blessed!

That was great dude!

Love you

Thank you for the video. I'm 15 years old and my girlfriend, who is fourteen, recently came out to her parents. Now they are going to send her away to some therapist or other who is supposed to make her straight. She was so scared that it might really work. Thanx to your video she has calmed down alot. She says she's ready to pull through.

mathew you're a beautiful soul!! and i'm proud to know you!! good luck ;-)

you look beautiful inside Mathew, your eyes say so :) All the best

You are who you are from birth. People who think being gay is a choice are delusional. If anybody needs to see a therapist, it's those delusional people who think that way. Why are folks gay? I have no idea, but it's not a decision that you just wake up one day, and say, "you're gay". Omericans are so hung up on labels. It drives me mad. As they say, live... and let live.

I feel most proponents of this therapy think something is WRONG when a person is gay. Umm......hellooo out there, there is NOTHING WRONG with being just the way you are, AND just the way you are not, gay, straight, goth, trans, (fill in the blank).

Wow, Matthew, I so related to what you said. I have about 15 years in ex-gay and reparative therapy camps trying my best to fit into the mold. It was a quite a long journey along with PTSD from bullying and what not. I decided to write a book about it and you can look at that here if you want to, I would love for you to read it and tell me your thoughts. www.gotwords.org/new-blog/

I'm 34 from Canada... Unfortunately I was put in conversion therapy at age 15 and as a result my life was ruined. I have spent the last 20 years of my life so confused about my sexuality that It has affected all aspects of my life. I have avoided meaningful friendships, lack self-esteem though I am good looking and personable... I have failed school though I am smart, I have avoided social situations where sexuality might be exposed, I have engaged in abusive, destructive relationships and generally, this therapy has ruined my life. I need help but don't even know where to begin to look...

marry me..

beautifull beautifull beautiful. I wish all my gay friends did Landmark and were so happy and were love like you are . Hpe you are doing well. x

Glad you Accepted yourself. Self Love is the Most Important Aspect and NO One can Really Learn to Trust to Love Anyone Else Until One Accepts Oneself as 'God' created them and as we each CHOOSE To be. ALL CONTROL fReAk$ 'SHOULD' Seek Therapy as More than likely, they're the ones who had Traumatic 'childhoods' and are now 'living' & PUSHING their 'LIE$' on everyone 'close' to them.

We celebrate diversity in all flora and fauna on this planet, marvel at the varieties of the same. The one thing humans can't seem to practice this enlightenment of wonders on is each other. Are we truly the superior species of we think we should all be exactly the same? Be who you are and want to be, we all bring something special to existence. Blessed Be

Thank you for sharing your story. I found a video a while ago that was titled Ex gay = Ex wife, you should check that out as that gives a lot of people another view from the straight spouse.

hi my Mathew. for me it doesn't get better

I'm years late in commenting on this video considering the date and the yahoo article that sent me here. Conversion doesn't work. There's a shock. I'm just waiting for someone who will try to disagree with my comments.

It's truly a shame that such barbaric "therapy" still exists. Glad you were able to remain true to yourself after going through that

And another thing, since you weren't "cured" as your therapist promised, you should ask for a refund, or better yet SUE his butt! lol Maybe he'll think thrice about making such idiotic claims in future.