Kudos to Queer Action Coalition Janus Online

Ex-Gay Watch:

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

Among the camp’spractices, 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.

Links: Daily Kos diary and Wayne Besen on the dangers and failures of Love in Action