Today a group of us went ans saw "Boy Erased" staring Nicole Kidman, Russell Crowe, and Lucas Hedges which is based on a true story and, if anything, is far, far too kind to advocates of conversion therapy and the now defunct "Love in Action "ministry" that inflicted harm on so many members of the LGBT community. Also among the cast was out gay musician Troye Sivan who played the role of one of the other victims of the fraudulent conversion therapy "ministry". The performances were extraordinary, especially that of Hedges and Kidman. Thankfully, at the end of the movie, the end credits noted that the real life "ministry" which lacked licensed doctors or psychologist had closed its doors and the villainous leader of the "ministry" played by Joel Edgerton had in fact ultimately left the conversion therapy scam industry and married his husband after admitting that no one had ever been changed from gay to straight.
I am very passionate about exposing the fraudulent and harmful nature of these programs which are condemned by EVERY legitimate medical and mental heal association in North America,. They do very real harm and, as "Boy Erased" shows can and do lead to needless suicides. A friend underwent forced participation in a conversion therapy "program" that involved and exorcism and physical abuse. Believe me, it severely harmed him emotionally and psychologically. I recommend this movie to anyone that wants to learn about the evils of these programs and wants to perhaps glimpse the emotional and psychological challenges anyone LGBT still faces in America - but especially Trump/Pence America.
If you see the movie - which I recommend readers do - and believe that these dangerous and fraudulent programs need to be outlawed, be mindful that a bill - SB 245 - in the 2018 session of the Virginia General Assembly that would have banned licensed professionals from in engaging in the "therapy" was killed by a small cabal of Republicans in the the Virginia Senate. The bill provided that:
Prohibits any health care provider or person who performs counseling as part of his training for any profession licensed by a regulatory board of the Department of Health Professions from engaging in conversion therapy with any person under 18 years of age. The bill defines "conversion therapy" as any practice or treatment that seeks to change an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity, including efforts to change behaviors or gender expressions or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward individuals of the same gender. . . . no state funds shall be expended for the purpose of conducting conversion therapy, referring a person for conversion therapy, extending health benefits coverage for conversion therapy, or awarding a grant or contract to any entity that conducts conversion therapy or refers individuals for conversion therapy.
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