A Tennessee-based religious organization euphemistically called "Love in Action" is running a brainwashing camp for gay kids.

Among the camp's practices, posted on the blog of a youth whose parents are forcing him to attend:

• Kids in the program are not allowed to speak to anyone, not even their parents, for at least the first two days.

• Kids are not allowed to go anywhere unless they are accompanied by at least two other participants, one of which has to have at least 8 weeks of prior indoctrination.

• Kids are not allowed to keep a journal or a diary

• Kids are not allowed to discuss what goes on in the program with anyone, not even their parents

• Kids are not allowed to have contact with any family members other than parents, who also go through the program

• Kids are not allowed to have any physical contact with any human being other than a hand shake or a pat on the shoulder, and only when authorized.

• Kids are not allowed outside of a small geographic area within Memphis, even if accompanied by parents, without prior written authorization

• Kids are not allowed to listen to any music that is not explicitly Christian (Bach and Beethoven are specifically forbidden as being non-Christian)

• Kids are not permitted to enter restaurants that serve alcohol

• Kids are not allowed to speak after 9:00 p.m. under any circumstance

• Kids may be placed in a state of isolation where they are not allowed to communicate with one another

Ex-gay programs, however misguided, are fine for consenting adults who for whatever reason think they want to change their sexual orientation (despite zero proof that it is even possible). This program is administered to minors against their will. It is forced indoctrination, including dehumanizing, degrading treatment. I really hope some civil liberties types will get clued into this and put a stop to it.

In the mean time, a local group of gays and lesbians (largely kids themselves) is orchestrating a protest outside of this cult-like establishment every day for the next two weeks. Kudos to them. If I were within a reasonable distance I would be right there with them. The protest has garnered some local media coverage, and the story is heating up in the blogosphere. Let’s put an end to this outrageous treatment of innocent kids.

In the latest post on the Queer Action Coalition blog, they posted a precis of an interview that they did with a former participant in the program, who outlined activities such as:

[…] “shaming sessions”, where the clients have to, once a day, describe in emotional detail “sinful activities” they’d partaken in…these sessions were then extended to having to describe these things in front of 50 or 60 people on “friends and family” nights, where the family was encouraged to shame them, not be supportive.

This is “love” in action???

Note: The blog from the youth whose parents are forcing him to go to this camp hasn’t been updated since before the camp started. Reading the comments, however, you will find updates from his friends who are sort of spying on him and showing up “accidentally” here and there so that he knows he is being supported from the outside.

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MoreCoverage from ExGay Watch.

16 year old named Zach in Bartlett, Tennessee recently came out to his parents who reacted by announcing they are sending him to an ex-gay live-in program called Love In Action, the same cult like program Peterson Toscano survived. How do we know all this? Zach has been writing about it on his blog found here on MySpace.com. To view Zach's main profile click here.

On his blog Zach posts program rules given to parents that aren't supposed to be seen by patients. There are of course several comical rules forbidding any clothing from Abercrombie and Fitch and dining at places like TGI Fridays (because there is a bar attached to the restaurant). Program rules of genuine concern to me is a clear double standard when it came to encouraging honesty, self-examination and reflection in patients. Several selected rules read:

Be honest, authentic, and real.

Absolutely no journaling or keeping a diary outside of the MI* process unless directed or approved by staff.

No discussing therapeutic issues at home. Keep conversations positive.

*[Moral Inventories, where one must keep records of sexual struggles and temptations.]
This troubles me. A participant is to be honest, authentic and real but... family visits are to be glossed over and superficial? Many people use journaling as a method of self reflection and thought. However it appears journals can only to be used to keep a "moral inventory" of sexual temptations. For a program that pretends to stress honesty and authenticity they sure discourage independent thought and discussion both with one's self and family. Frankly don't see how this kind of suppression of genuinely productive thought can lead to positive healing no matter what your goal.

In conclusion, Zach was scheduled to be shipped off on June 6th. His MySpace profile indicates he last logged in on the 5th.

Addendum:

A blog has been set up here by a group calling itself the Queer Action Coalition and features day by day accounts of protests at Love Won Out's headquarters.

A local news broadcast (windows media) can be found here.

Link to story on Ex-Gay Watch - Click Here.

This entry was posted on Sunday, June 12, 2005 at 3:25 PM. Want to discuss? Leave a comment below.