# What happens in conversion therapy? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 30, 2000, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-in-conversion-therapy/43322 "2000-11-30T04:40:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![andygirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@andygirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andygirl)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2000, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-in-conversion-therapy/43322/1 "2000-11-30T04:40:51Z")
Today I was in a conversation about gay “conversion therapy”, and I realized that while I denounce it wholeheartedly, I don’t know much about it. Is anyone familiar with exactly what is involved in said “therapy”? I don’t want this to be a debate about it- I just want to know the steps, how long it takes, what methods are used, ect… anyone know, oh teeming millions? ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2000, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-in-conversion-therapy/43322/2 "2000-11-30T04:58:57Z")
I can’t give you specifics but it’s a topic I’m taking interest in, from an anti-perspective. My curch, Evangelical Lutheran, is taking an active role in making sure that gays and lesbians are fully accepted and affirmed in congregations. We’re organizing a conference on human sexuality early next year to help pastors understand the issues involved. Unfortunately there was a sort of euqal time ammendment added and we’ll have folks from the Exodous movement there. These are the folks that as a congregation member puts it, “teaches gays to walk like John Wayne, puts lipstick on lesbians and thinks it will turn them straight.” The reason I care about this is because I’ve seen the damage the conversions can do to people. My brother was put through hell as a teenager when the Southern Baptists tried to “fix” him. These folks may mean well but it’s not uncommon to drive the deprogramees to suicide because of the conflict. My brother came out of it okay, and still quite gay thank you, and miracle of miracles it did not divide my family against itself. ---
**Author:** ![andygirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@andygirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andygirl)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2000, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-in-conversion-therapy/43322/3 "2000-11-30T05:05:38Z")
Oh, I should mention that I am familiar with the basic ideas behind conversion therapy, as well as it’s horrible “success rate”. Mom and dad wanted to sign me up for it until they realized how horrible it was. Anyway, I’m just curious as to the details. ---
**Author:** ![puddleglum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puddleglum/32/137_2.png) [@puddleglum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puddleglum)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2000, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-in-conversion-therapy/43322/4 "2000-11-30T15:38:15Z")
Here is a website that might be helpful. [http://www.narth.com](http://www.narth.com) From a quick perusal of the site it does not seem that conversion therapy is that different than any other therapy. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2000, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-in-conversion-therapy/43322/5 "2000-11-30T16:08:59Z")
Well, the Narth website is strangely vague about what reparative therapy actually is. I couldn’t really figure out what they do. The clearest explanation I found was [here](http://www.leaderu.com/orgs/narth/cases.html). Apparently, they’re still going on the idea that homosexual men have “injured masculinity” and apparently need to spend more time with roughneck male friends drinking beer, watching football and grunting. All-righty then… I thought we were over this “homosexuals are feminine” thing? I find it hard to believe that the therapists involved in this have never had a football-player type or a biker-type come in for what false help they advertise. Do these men look feminine? Sheesh… ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2000, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-in-conversion-therapy/43322/6 "2000-11-30T16:50:35Z")
andygirl, I can only imagine. I suppose it’s more like adversion counseling. e.g. “Busse and Cooper stated that their program enhances feelings of guilt, shame, failure, and suicidal feelings. After all, they seek help for their perceived perversion, were told by the counselor how awful and harmful their orientation is” ---
**Author:** ![Freyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freyr/32/5763_2.png) [@Freyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freyr)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2000, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-in-conversion-therapy/43322/7 "2000-11-30T17:16:22Z")
From what little I’ve read by people who’ve gone thru it, it seems to cover two topics: 1. You need to let Jesus into your life to heal you. What they do about Buddhist, Hindu or Atheist homosexuals, I don’t know. 😃 2. Relying on old, out-dated “cause of homosexuality” theories, like the “distant or weak father/strong or dominant mother” and the “recruited as a child by an older homosexual.” Pretty ghastly. ---
**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2000, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-in-conversion-therapy/43322/8 "2000-11-30T17:18:52Z")
I never thought about it too hard, but I guess I’ve always assumed it was like Alex’s “treatment” in **A Clockwork Orange**. So, you know, “cured” homosexuals will vomit whenever they think about having sex with a man, or hear Beethoven. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2000, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-in-conversion-therapy/43322/9 "2000-11-30T17:19:02Z")
Wow. I had no idea there were so many “conversion” groups. There are, unfortunately, more than is listed here. Check out: > **[Home](https://www.firststone.org/)** > > First Stone Ministries: Oklahoma City, OK \> Home [http://www.exodusnorthamerica.org/](http://www.exodusnorthamerica.org/) [http://home.flash.net/~renew/](http://home.flash.net/~renew/) I have not read all of these links, but they seem to think that you can teach a homosexual to mimic the behavior of a heterosexual. Sort of like you can teach a lefty to mimic a right-handed person (not a very apt analogy, but the best I can think of before coffee). ---
**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2000, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-in-conversion-therapy/43322/10 "2000-11-30T17:20:17Z")
I understand it’s something like the Ludovico treatment. They hold your eyes open and administer nauseau-inducing drugs while making you watch “The Next Best Thing” and “The Object of My Affection.” On second thought, maybe the drugs are redundant. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2000, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-in-conversion-therapy/43322/11 "2000-11-30T18:31:03Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Freyr_ > From what little I’ve read by people who’ve gone thru it, it seems to cover two topics: > > 1. You need to let Jesus into your life to heal you. What they do about Buddhist, Hindu or Atheist homosexuals, I don’t know.😃 They say “You _really_ need to let Jesus into your life to heal you.” ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2000, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-in-conversion-therapy/43322/12 "2000-11-30T23:12:34Z")
Freud and God, the ultimate therapy team!