Conversion Therapy (Article)

[Unveiled Artist]

What It’s Like To Experience Gay Conversion Therapy

This is a heart jerking testimony of a young lesbian whose parents sent her to conversion therapy. Its not that much long especially if youre interested in reading for the context and discussions.

 

[Mock Turtle]

No 7 on my list of reasons (30), why religions have been the worst invention of humans - They often promote false beliefs (about such things as sexuality).

 

[pearl]

The long term damage from such 'therapy' if 'successful' is the loss of self.

 

[Reaper]

As someone who is queer this sort of thing is heartbreaking. Conversion therapy should not be legal, it's abhorrent.

 

[ADigitalArtist]

No 7 on my list of reasons (30), why religions have been the worst invention of humans - They often promote false beliefs (about such things as sexuality).

I doubt things would have been much different without religious involvement in this case. Poor treatment of LGBT is results of a human rejection of the other, and historically non-religious governments and communities often treated them no better. Let it never be said that atheist or non-religious are immune from groupthink, dogmatism and traditionalism.

 

[Mock Turtle]

I doubt things would have been much different without religious involvement in this case. Poor treatment of LGBT is results of a human rejection of the other, and historically non-religious governments and communities often treated them no better. Let it never be said that atheist or non-religious are immune from groupthink, dogmatism and traditionalism.

But religious beliefs I think help a great deal.

 

[ADigitalArtist]

But religious beliefs I think help a great deal.

I don't. Religion isn't a monolith and the highest educated and most socially left leaning groups are both religious. (Hindu and paganism, respectively.) And, like I said, non-religious societies, and especially anti-religious societies, have just a poor a record in human rights as anybody else. Leading me to conclude that religion is not the problem here.

 

[Mock Turtle]

I don't. Religion isn't a monolith and the highest educated and most socially left leaning groups are both religious. (Hindu and paganism, respectively.) And, like I said, non-religious societies, and especially anti-religious societies, have just a poor a record in human rights as anybody else. Leading me to conclude that religion is not the problem here.

You did read the article? And aren't JWs against homosexuality? Islam even? No issues?

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Another fine example of where we allow for too much "freedom of religion" and let it lead to destruction and misery, like whipping a bull and letting it charge through a store of glass antiques. This so-called "therapy" should be banned outright.

 

[ADigitalArtist]

You did read the article? And aren't JWs against homosexuality? Islam even? No issues?

Yes, gay conversion camps here in the US tend to be Christian based, and Abrahamic thought has historically and culturally been monstrous to LGBT. But if I have you the history of secular China for example, it wouldn't be any better. And further, Abrahamic religion =/= religion.

Lastly, the majority of states in the US passed gay marriage legislation by popular vote. Which means there are currently far more Christian allys to LGBT than atheists necessarily by that sort of representation. Something to consider when making sweeping statements about how religion views x or y (especially if you really just mean Abrahamic religion.)

 

[Mock Turtle]

Yes, gay conversion camps here in the US tend to be Christian based, and Abrahamic thought has historically and culturally been monstrous to LGBT. But if I have you the history of secular China for example, it wouldn't be any better. And further, Abrahamic religion =/= religion.

Lastly, the majority of states in the US passed gay marriage legislation by popular vote. Which means there are currently far more Christian allys to LGBT than atheists necessarily by that sort of representation. Something to consider when making sweeping statements about how religion views x or y (especially if you really just mean Abrahamic religion.)

Over 2 billion Muslims - hardly insignificant is it? I think we are perfectly entitled to point to religious beliefs as holding back LGBT rights. As in - they often promote false beliefs.

 

[ADigitalArtist]

Over 2 billion Muslims - hardly insignificant is it? I think we are perfectly entitled to point to religious beliefs as holding back LGBT rights. As in - they often promote false beliefs.

Sure, so long as we say the same about the atheists or anti-theists who did the same thing (re: billions of Soviet Russians, Chinese, even the conservative libertarian 'new wave' atheists.)
And also not forgetting that a sizable chunk of those billions of religious peoole are also LGBT allys, including Muslims, Christians, Jews, Hindu, Pagans etc.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

This is one of the BIGGEST reasons I left christianity. Many logical reasons, such as belief in god but the one the most heartretching is having your identity ripped from you.

 

[Mock Turtle]

Sure, so long as we say the same about the atheists or anti-theists who did the same thing (re: billions of Soviet Russians, Chinese, even the conservative libertarian 'new wave' atheists.)
And also not forgetting that a sizable chunk of those billions of religious peoole are also LGBT allys, including Muslims, Christians, Jews, Hindu, Pagans etc.

The Soviets were and are a special case as for China:

Homosexuality in China - Wikipedia

Seems more like a modern thing from the Red Revolution and such. People can be ignorant all the time but it probably takes a religion, backed by authority, to make anything stick.

 

[YmirGF]

I don't. Religion isn't a monolith and the highest educated and most socially left leaning groups are both religious. (Hindu and paganism, respectively.) And, like I said, non-religious societies, and especially anti-religious societies, have just a poor a record in human rights as anybody else. Leading me to conclude that religion is not the problem here.

Aside from the fact that virtually all religions have a miserable track record on gay rights and often outright encourage persecution. It's only been in the last 10 or 15 years that we have even heard religious groups pretending to be inclusive.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Yes, gay conversion camps here in the US tend to be Christian based, and Abrahamic thought has historically and culturally been monstrous to LGBT. But if I have you the history of secular China for example, it wouldn't be any better. And further, Abrahamic religion =/= religion.

Lastly, the majority of states in the US passed gay marriage legislation by popular vote. Which means there are currently far more Christian allys to LGBT than atheists necessarily by that sort of representation. Something to consider when making sweeping statements about how religion views x or y (especially if you really just mean Abrahamic religion.)

No. There is not. Our federal government does not support anything LGBT. They fall after YEARS of being being bamboarded with equal rights for people. The atmosphere, religious "and" not, are christian influenced.

Not all states recognize the morality associated with human rights for all people. A lot of people who havent experienced that type of discrimination of identity are ignorant to the a

Ignorant to the affects of discrimination from one side of the states and world affects others in a different part. The religious nature be it muslim countries or christian have these views and incorporate them in societal norms. The government cant control nor take vote on people individually. What people actually go through and live around daily. They can only get a general consensus.

Stuff like this:
Welcome (Exodus International)

Is still around though this organization shut down and owners apologized.

Stuff like this: https://couragerc.org still exists at our church.

Religion has a huge influence regardless peoples individual religious views. One JW here was very nice to say how his relations wih LGBT are; but, his relgious views still seperates them from himself, regardless how nice he is. It affects all.

The majority are christians and muslims in many eureopean and eastern countries. A lot of which in other countries see same-sex relations as wrong cultural rules and comformaty to that culture. Just when it comes to conversion, curing, and saving its christians. There are quite a few religions that used to kill people for going against social norms. Conversion was supposed to be a step up.

In 1987 is when they took homosexuality out as a mental illness in the states. Its a local and state issue.

 

[David T]

I was forced into conversion therapy at 6 in starting 1962.

The goal was to get to..

So we could properly function inside this.

It was horrifying. I said F@£& it and moved to here. The whole thing Is one giant Sh(tshow regardless.

 

[ADigitalArtist]

The Soviets were and are a special case as for China:

Homosexuality in China - Wikipedia

Seems more like a modern thing from the Red Revolution and such. People can be ignorant all the time but it probably takes a religion, backed by authority, to make anything stick.

Or just 'an authority,' religious or otherwise. Trying to make Soviet a 'special case' is just special pleading.

 

[YmirGF]

Or just 'an authority,' religious or otherwise. Trying to make Soviet a 'special case' is just special pleading.

One doesn't need to make it a special case. Gay rights, to this day, have not been well received in Communist societies, period.

I do agree with you that it is more about "othering", however and is prevalent in all societies throughout the ages. It's only been in recent decades that attitudes have begun to change in the more open societies, globally speaking.

 

[ADigitalArtist]

Aside from the fact that virtually all religions have a miserable track record on gay rights and often outright encourage persecution. It's only been in the last 10 or 15 years that we have even heard religious groups pretending to be inclusive.

Virtually all cultures, regardless of the amount of religion, including lack thereof, have a miserable track record with gay rights and often encouraged persecution. And those that didn't weren't less religious. My whole point is it's a human nature problem, not necessarily a religious one. Trying to blame religion for it both ignores the millions of LGBT allys and ignores regressive trends among non-religious.
A pew survey recently showed that homosexuality 'should be discouraged' rose by 10% in 10 years and is continuing to climb. To say nothing of atheist movements like new atheists members and leaders showing some pretty transphobic beliefs. Of course #notallatheists but also #notallreligious.