Beyond Ex-Gay’s Peterson Toscano On Why People Enter ‘Ex-Gay’ Programs

Peterson Toscano has a real knack for clearly explaining the “ex-gay” survivor experience. Check out his video:

When an ex-gay survivor shares an account of how they tried to change or suppress their orientation or gender non-conforming behavior, some gays and lesbians respond–That’s CRAZY! Why would you ever do something that STUPID!

Indeed, it may seem illogical that intelligent queer folk living in modern times get duped by promises of heterosexuality or vaguer promises of “change.” Some just chalk it up to that Old Time Religion that makes people do silly and self-destructive things. But it’s not that simple.

After spending nearly twenty years deeply entrenched in the ex-gay world, attending multiple Exodus programs, including the Love in Action residential facility for two years, I finally came to my senses and came out of the closet. I then began to ask myself–WHY did you do that to yourself? Why did you let ex-gay ministers and gay reparative therapists tamper with you.

[h/t Ex-Gay Watch]

3 Comments

curtis April 5, 2011 at 11:31 am -

Thanks Wayne for featuring this video. Thanks Peter for such an insightful look at what prompted the self-abusive course of reparative or conversion therapy. I also survived ex-gay ministries. I was lucky not to have spent as much money as you, but the years wasted, the heartache and the people I drove out of my life will never be reclaimed.

Thank you for all you do to show the lies, misinformation and harmful effects of what I believe does more psycho-emotional harm than anything I can possibly imagine.

Bless you both.
Merlyn April 5, 2011 at 2:47 pm -

Not at all surprised that some GLBT people end up in something like this. Some are minors, so they have no choice if Mum and Dad decide to make them enter a “ex-gay” “ministry”. Others are just religious and have been manipulated by guilt to seek to “change”. I really can understand why someone GLBT might end up in these programs either voluntarily or involuntarily.
iDavid April 6, 2011 at 2:50 am -

Thanks Peterson,

Very moving film.

David