Conversion therapy is the weird pseudo-scientific practice of attempting to change an individual’s sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression to align with heterosexual or cis-gender norms. This abuse has been widespread across the US for decades, most often initiated by twisted religious parents trying to ‘cure’ their queer child. Queer youth are particularly vulnerable, often unsure of their sexuality and fearful of negative messaging in religious education as well as in wider homophobic society. Shockingly, approximately 700,000 US citizens have received conversion therapy at some point in their lives.
Conversion is a candid, heartfelt, new documentary directed by Zach Meiners , himself a survivor of conversion therapy, which explores this gruesome practice, its grubby practitioners and the lifelong adverse effects it can have on those affected by it.
The practice of conversion therapy began in the nineteenth century with the use of hypnosis to get rid of someone’s homosexuality but it didn’t gain real popularity until the 1950s. Then religious fanaticism combined with widespread homophobia and the increased visibility of homosexuals in society led many people to conversion therapy, either by their own accord or via bullying parents, other family members or associates. The brutal methods used to ‘convert’ patients have included brain surgery, surgical or hormonal castration, electric shock therapy, nausea-inducing drugs, hypnosis, exorcism and other spiritual interventions, psychoanalysis and arousal reconditioning. Shockingly, as Meiners’ documentary reveals, many of these methods remain in use today, even exorcism.
Conversion is a story by survivors. Meiners takes us through his conversion therapy journey, and those of other survivors who include Elena, an ex-Mormon mum of four, and Dustin, a successful drag queen, to highlight the physical and mental impacts of this vile, dangerous practice. Fortunately, many survivors have gone on to lead happy, fulfilled queer lives. As well as the voices of survivors, Meiners shines a light on the many, now largely discredited, practitioners and their organizations. These include Alan Chambers and John Smid as well as McKrae Game, a gay man whose now closed Hope for Wholeness organization was born out of the banned Exodus International. Game is interviewed. Although he now denounces conversion therapy, he is evasive and suffers memory lapses when confronted about the past horrors of his organization. These interviews are combined with those with doctors and other specialists, including Wayne Besen, the queer rights advocate, as well as archive TV footage, to paint a vivid, sometimes ghastly picture of the underbelly of religious, homophobic America.
What is particularly shocking is how recent many of the experiences cited occurred – many in the past ten years. Conversion therapy is now outlawed in many US states, but manages to survive by twisting like a snake, with poorly-regulated religious institutions exploiting their First Amendment rights to freedom of expression. Meiners’ excellent documentary will hopefully give hope to the many survivors that they are not alone, inform new generations of queers as to its dark existence and the pathways out of it, as well as alerting the rest of us to this dangerous practice. Be aware.
Queerguru’s Contributing Editor Ris Fatah is a successful fashion/luxury business consultant (when he can be bothered) who divides and wastes his time between London and Ibiza. He is a lover of all things queer, feminist, and human rights in general. @ris.fatah
