I saw a documentary about the Mormon programs, which did not make them look effective at all. It covered some of the early renditions of these programs, which included forcing men to watch gay porn while giving them nausea-inducing drugs and/or electric shocks
You used the word "forcing", but surely these were voluntary programs in which the men knew in advance what the treatment would be? Nevertheless, such a program sounds close to barbaric, IMO.
My Utah son-in-law had a roommate at BYU who was also a long childhood friend. He came to visit them one day about 2 years after they were married and announced his homosexuality and that he was in Salt Lake to try the church's six week program. My son-in-law and my daughter, who had also known this young man at BYU, said neither one of them had ever had an inkling and that this guy was popular with the girls at school, dated a lot, and was really fun-loving.
He left the program real enthusiastic, went back to Florida where he lived, and was active in the Church for about 2 years. But eventually he stopped going and returned to a man, a co-worker, that he had loved for years. He's fine with his family and comes to visit Dave and Ashley whenever he's in town, and has told them several times that even though he's happy, he'd be back in the Church in a heartbeat if the Church's posture on the subject ever changed.
We all agree that we hope science can resolve the issue and put it to rest as soon as possible.
I'm glad your friend was reconciled with her family. Like I said before, people of basic good will should just stick together, take care of each other, and trust that God sorts all these issues out in the end. |
