Run by religious or pseudo-scientific communities, these therapies promise to fix a supposedly "deviant sexual orientation" and to change a person’s inner identity. Through social, familial, and religious pressure, Mathew, Jordan and Lucas all signed up for these therapies and went through hell: Isolation, sequestration, humiliation, food deprivation, physical and psychological violence.
Today, a political combat is underway to halt these therapies and to acknowledge the victims. This is likely to be a long process, given that such practices are still allowed in 41 states and have the backing of the Trump administration.
Documentary: YOU'LL BE STRAIGHT
Directed by Caroline Benarrosh
Production: Tohubohu for France Télévisions
These religious freaks are cruel and ignorant. Homosexuality is not a choice; rather, it is innate. One is born with such proclivities. The environment and circumstances one is raised in also have their part to play in determining a person’s sexual orientation. The gay cannot be prayed away. Conversion therapy is destined to fail. The best that it can achieve is the suppression of homosexual tendencies. But that in itself is extremely damaging to one’s mental and physical health. In a civilized society, these practices should be outlawed. Being gay is very natural. If it weren’t, why on earth would it be present in the animal kingdom? Americans need to be enlightened. They are living in darkness. — © Mark Alexander
