# Man who founded one of the nations biggest conversion therapy ministries, is gay. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 3, 2019, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-who-founded-one-of-the-nations-biggest-conversion-therapy-ministries-is-gay/839641 "2019-09-03T19:42:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2019, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-who-founded-one-of-the-nations-biggest-conversion-therapy-ministries-is-gay/839641/1 "2019-09-03T19:42:45Z")
I’m not shocked at all. I imagine most of us aren’t surprised. I’m torn between anger and sadness about this. “Man who founded one of the nation’s biggest conversion therapy ministries has something to say: he’s gay.” From here. > Fucker. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2019, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-who-founded-one-of-the-nations-biggest-conversion-therapy-ministries-is-gay/839641/2 "2019-09-03T19:58:43Z")
Well duh. If you think you can successfully suppress your own homosexuality, it’s not a stretch to think you can force that on others too. “The 51-year-old also is trying to find his place in a community he’s assailed for at least 20 years. Game is one of several former movement leaders who have left the pulpits of heterosexuality, come out as LGBTQ and condemned conversion therapy as a dangerous and misleading practice.” It’s easier to shove others into the closet when you’re already lurking in there. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2019, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-who-founded-one-of-the-nations-biggest-conversion-therapy-ministries-is-gay/839641/3 "2019-09-03T20:09:24Z")
Interesting username/OP combo. Because it’s _exactly_ what I’d expect. ---
**Author:** ![Unreconstructed\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/76d3ee/32.png) [@Unreconstructed\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unreconstructed_Man)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2019, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-who-founded-one-of-the-nations-biggest-conversion-therapy-ministries-is-gay/839641/4 "2019-09-03T20:34:26Z")
I was thinking exactly what SMV said. This is literally the most predictable thing ever. ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2019, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-who-founded-one-of-the-nations-biggest-conversion-therapy-ministries-is-gay/839641/5 "2019-09-03T20:50:03Z")
Yeah, no surprise. He has definitely done a lot of harm to a lot of people but I don’t see the need to pile on now that he’s trying to atone. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2019, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-who-founded-one-of-the-nations-biggest-conversion-therapy-ministries-is-gay/839641/6 "2019-09-03T21:10:54Z")
This is very simple. It is called DENIAL and it is a powerful force in human psychology. There have been countless others who have fallen in the same trap. It is very easy to recognize. They talk incessantly about the need to fight off the demons or some other crap because they are dealing with self-hatred. I have seen it in person and could show you national news stories about it. What they don’t realize is that true heterosexual people don’t have to fight off any “demons” at all. I am not homophobic in the least but the thought of sleeping with another man repulses me. I won’t judge anyone for being that way but it simply isn’t something that ever crosses my mind. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2019, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-who-founded-one-of-the-nations-biggest-conversion-therapy-ministries-is-gay/839641/7 "2019-09-03T21:31:33Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > What they don’t realize is that true heterosexual people don’t have to fight off any “demons” at all. I am not homophobic in the least but the thought of sleeping with another man repulses me. I won’t judge anyone for being that way but it simply isn’t something that ever crosses my mind. Yes, this. I’ve never been attracted to another man sexually and the thought of homosexual sex doesn’t appeal to me. I have homosexual friends, and a bi-curious daughter I fully support, and have no problem with people who don’t share my heterosexuality. Whatever, I’m into one thing and they’re into another, who cares? If you are so obsessed with others’ sexuality that you feel the need to “cure” them, you must have some unresolved issues with your own sexuality. Those are the people who need therapy. (I mean that in a literal, positive way; get help before you hurt yourself and others any further.) ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2019, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-who-founded-one-of-the-nations-biggest-conversion-therapy-ministries-is-gay/839641/8 "2019-09-03T22:02:57Z")
Er…he didn’t exactly hide it. Ever. > [@About Page of his own organisation](#): > > McKrae is the Founder and Executive Director of Hope for Wholeness, The ministry was founded in 1999; McKrae is an ordained Southern Baptist minister. He was ordained by his home church, First Baptist North Spartanburg, specifically to work in ministry with those affected by same-sex attractions. He shares the causes and treatment of same-sex attraction with his own experience as a person who struggled with homosexuality. When he was younger, he lived as a gay man for three years. So the only two possibilities are a) he’s still gay or b) conversion therapy does actually work, and the real headline should be “Conversion Therapy Leader admits it’s actually Option A”. I’m sure we’ve been here before for a number of years (also - surprised they haven’t taken his bio down yet…) ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2019, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-who-founded-one-of-the-nations-biggest-conversion-therapy-ministries-is-gay/839641/9 "2019-09-03T22:05:42Z")
Game was gay, but he identified as straight ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2019, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-who-founded-one-of-the-nations-biggest-conversion-therapy-ministries-is-gay/839641/10 "2019-09-03T22:07:16Z")
The sad thing is that “conversion therapy” is still legal in 32 states. Shame on this country for allowing this type of torture. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2019, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-who-founded-one-of-the-nations-biggest-conversion-therapy-ministries-is-gay/839641/11 "2019-09-03T22:34:07Z")
> **[Reaction formation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reaction_formation)** > > In Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalytic theory, reaction formation (German: Reaktionsbildung) is a defense mechanism in which emotions and impulses which are anxiety-producing or perceived to be unacceptable are mastered by exaggeration of the directly opposing tendency. > The reaction formations belong to Level 3 of neurotic defense mechanisms, which also include dissociation, displacement, intellectualization, and repression. > Reaction formation depends on the hypothesis that: > "\[t\]he instincts and the... > [@](#): > > In psychoanalytic theory, reaction formation (German: Reaktionsbildung) is a defense mechanism in which emotions and impulses which are anxiety-producing or perceived to be unacceptable are mastered by exaggeration of the directly opposing tendency.[1][2] The reaction formations belong to Level 3 of neurotic defense mechanisms, which also include dissociation, displacement, intellectualization, and repression. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2019, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-who-founded-one-of-the-nations-biggest-conversion-therapy-ministries-is-gay/839641/12 "2019-09-03T22:35:36Z")
Is it wrong for me to hope that he never gets laid? ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2019, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-who-founded-one-of-the-nations-biggest-conversion-therapy-ministries-is-gay/839641/13 "2019-09-03T22:45:33Z")
Will there be refunds? ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2019, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-who-founded-one-of-the-nations-biggest-conversion-therapy-ministries-is-gay/839641/14 "2019-09-04T01:08:39Z")
Because, of course he is. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2019, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-who-founded-one-of-the-nations-biggest-conversion-therapy-ministries-is-gay/839641/15 "2019-09-04T03:27:00Z")
How much self loathing must he have felt? ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2019, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-who-founded-one-of-the-nations-biggest-conversion-therapy-ministries-is-gay/839641/16 "2019-09-04T06:22:49Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > Yes, this. I’ve never been attracted to another man sexually and the thought of homosexual sex doesn’t appeal to me. I have homosexual friends, and a bi-curious daughter I fully support, and have no problem with people who don’t share my heterosexuality. Whatever, I’m into one thing and they’re into another, who cares? > > If you are so obsessed with others’ sexuality that you feel the need to “cure” them, you must have some unresolved issues with your own sexuality. Those are the people who need therapy. (I mean that in a literal, positive way; get help before you hurt yourself and others any further.) Likewise, I am not physically attracted to other women, although I sure know plenty of women who are and don’t give a crap. I feel the same way about people who make fun of virgins and are more than 16 or so years old themselves. How is someone else’s virginity or celibacy hurting you, and why do you think it’s any of your business? Gee whiz, why do these stories never, ever surprise me? ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2019, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-who-founded-one-of-the-nations-biggest-conversion-therapy-ministries-is-gay/839641/17 "2019-09-04T17:14:59Z")
Yeah, I find this about as surprising as learning that the founder of AA is an alcoholic. The difference of course being that alcoholism is a actually destructive, is not fundamental to a person’s identity and AA actually does some good in curbing that destructive desire. But I would assume that the person most motivated to “cure” homosexuality would be a self hating homosexual who is trying to cure himself, and further that his “treatments” wouldn’t be any more successful on himself than it would be on any of his victims. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2019, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-who-founded-one-of-the-nations-biggest-conversion-therapy-ministries-is-gay/839641/18 "2019-09-04T17:16:40Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > … the thought of sleeping with another man repulses me. I won’t judge anyone for being that way but it simply isn’t something that ever crosses my mind. > [@Atamasama](#): > > I’ve never been attracted to another man sexually and the thought of homosexual sex doesn’t appeal to me. Why is it necessary to point these things out? Unless… ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2019, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-who-founded-one-of-the-nations-biggest-conversion-therapy-ministries-is-gay/839641/19 "2019-09-04T18:17:32Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Why is it necessary to point these things out? Unless… I wondered the same thing. I mean, I know I’m straight because the thought of having sex with another man doesn’t arouse me. But it doesn’t disgust me, either; gay sex is in the same category as golf or woodworking - just another thing some people like to do. I don’t have enough emotion around it to be attracted _or_ repelled. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2019, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-who-founded-one-of-the-nations-biggest-conversion-therapy-ministries-is-gay/839641/20 "2019-09-04T19:36:42Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Why is it necessary to point these things out? Unless… Ah, the reason I’m not attracted to men is because I’m secretly gay. Of course! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-who-founded-one-of-the-nations-biggest-conversion-therapy-ministries-is-gay/839641.md?page=2)