Camp Hetero Horror

This is what I get for adding yet another feed to my already long list of feeds to keep up with. This time it was LinkFilter that brought me a story so scary and depressing that I literally just sat and stared at the computer for about ten minutes.

I've seen the movie But I'm a Cheerleader, but I guess I've been blocking out of my mind the reality that there are camps out there that allegedly make gay kids "straight," and that parents send their kids to these places. Specifically, Zack's parents are sending him. Apparently, when you're a 16-year-old gay boy in Bartlett, TN, bad things can happen.

Well today, my mother, father, and I had a very long "talk" in my room where they let me know I am to apply for a fundamentalist christian program for gays. They tell me that there is something psychologically wrong with me, and they "raised me wrong." I'm a big screw up to them, who isn't on the path God wants me to be on. So I'm sitting here in tears, joing the rest of those kids who complain about their parents on blogs - and I can't help it. I wish I had never told them. I wish I just fought the urge two more years...

I had done it for three before then, right? If I could take it all back.. I would, to where I never told my parents things and they always were mad at me-- It's better than them crying and depressed cause they will have no granchildren from me. It's better than them telling me that there's something wrong with me. It's better than them explaining to me that they "raised me wrong."

Here's more than you'd ever want to know about the rules of this place. I warn you, it's...well...scary. And here's what it does to a kid to even think of being sent to one of these places.

I haven't been on a computer, phone, nor have I seen any friends in a week almost-- Soon. Soon, this will be all over. My mother has said the worst things to me for three days straight... three days. I went numb. That's the only way I can get through this. I agree, if you're thinking that these posts might be dramatized.. but the proof of the programs ideas are sitting in the rules. I pray this blows over. I can't take this... noone can... not really, this kind of thing tears you apart emotionally. To introduce THIS subject... I'm not a suicidal person... really I'm not.. I think it's stupid - really. But.. I can't help it, no im not going to commit suicide, all I can think about is killing my mother and myself. It's so horrible. This is what it's doing to me... I have this horrible feeling all of the time... I wish this on no person..

So, the "program" started on June 6th, and until the 17th or 20th, Zach is in the hands of an organization run by Rev. John Smid (more on him here), whose many words of widsome include this little gem.

"I would rather you commit suicide than have you leave Love In Action wanting to return to the gay lifestyle. In a physical death you could still have a spiritual resurrection; whereas, returning to homosexuality you are yielding yourself to a spiritual death from which there is no recovery." --The Final Indoctrination from John Smid, Director, Love In Action (LIA), San Rafael's "ex-gay" clan.

And Zack's parents put him in this guy's hands? As far as I'm concerned, they don't deserve to be parents. Anyone who would do something like that to a kid—send them to a place like that—doesn't. It's child abuse, plain and simple. Their kid deserves better.

Maybe I'm reacting this way because when I was Zach's age, something like this was my worst nightmare, and was one of the main reasons why I didn't come out to my folks then.

At least Zack has been able to reach out to people online. His story is getting out. And He's got hundreds of messages of support waiting for him when he comes back. I just hope he makes it out of there in one piece, emotionally and psychologically. Camp "Refuge" is in Memphis, TN.

WIth any luck, maybe someone in or near Memphis will come across Zack's story and undertake a "rescue mission" to get him out of there.

Comments

[H-]

Antichrist Christians, Evil In the Name of God!

The Holy Bible teaches the lessons and morals of Jesus Christ, Son of God, and the lessons and morals of mortal men interpreting their philosophies of God’s law. The fake Christians and church leaders are the ones who portray themselves and their teaching as holier than that of Jesus. Such people are evil and unknowingly supporting the antichrist. They do not teach the lessons of Jesus Christ but the lessons of mortal men. They place mortal men as holier than they place Jesus.

I am so sorry your parents are choosing this antichrist route. So many Americans are led to this evilness. An example of this widespread manifesting evilness for example, half of America voted George Bush and Republican Conservatives to be their leaders. I wish these people would wake up and actually understand the lessons of Jesus, and see the negative actions they are doing onto God’s love.

All people should follow the teachings of Christ above the teachings of holy men and “holier than thou” institutions. To place mortal beliefs and teaching of morals above the teaching and morals of Jesus is the worshiping of a false idol. It leads to evilness and harm to others.

H-

[bls]

This is truly horrible.

"Priests" and "ministers" who advocate this sort of thing - when everybody already knows it's snake oil at best - ought to have their licenses pulled.

I wonder if there's anything people could do in that direction, as a matter of fact? This is completely irresponsible, and in fact medically unethical. "Professionals" who push this stuff, knowing it doesn't work and is in fact harmful in many cases, ought to be forced to find another line of work. The professions wouldn't put up with this in any other area; how come "religion" is exempt?

[bls]

(Seriously. The people on their "staff" have degrees in counseling. They are pushing this as a psychological "cure."

Where is the accountability? Where are the national, or state, standards boards?)

[bls]

Really, seriously. I'm completely pissed now. Who can we report these people to, does anybody know? They need to have their licenses to practice anything revoked. They should never work as counselors again.

A "mental health professional" who encourages his clients to commit suicide should be in jail - or at least be kept far, far away from people he could harm. And that goes for the rest of them, too.

Where is the accountability? If a therapist ever said anything like that to anyone for any other reason, people would scream for his head. Why do so-called "Christians" get a free pass because it's about their so-called "faith"?

[DAN]

The world,this country is such a mess.I have a feeling he'll be fine but it is unfortunate that he and other's have to go through this garbage. The only way to stop all the madness is education and that takes time.We as concerned people need to show the world that we are as normal as anyone.
So much has changed in the last 20 years and it's been a good change. It will only get better. Zack will not kill himself.I have a feeling he knows there's so much to look foward to.

[ck]

From the "rules":

6. No television viewing, going to movies, or reading/watching/listening to secular media of any kind, anywhere within the client¹s and the parent¹s/guardian¹s control. This includes listening to classical or instrumental music that is not expressly Christian (Beethoven, Bach, etc. are not considered Christian). The only exception to the media policy is the weekly movie.

Yes... God forbid the homosexually tempted youth encounter the music of Beethoven or Bach!! Oh, the filth!

[Donna Rowe]

Bach, "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring"

Beethoven, "Ode to Joy"

Oh, yeah, definitely unChristian!

*rolls eyes*

[Peachy]

Wow...don't feel too bad. Just be true to who you really are. I live in Bartlett...and it's raunchy.

[Dr Hwesa]

I am a spirit medium, I have male and female souls in me. I am desperate to communicate with the outside world and others like me. I can heal, fortune tell, dance, sing and teach spiritually .. very original. I have more than 20 spirits in me and I have captured these spirits in vedio over the past 3 yrs and I want someone to help distribute to the rest of the world. I have readings that the world is coming to an end and everyone must go back to their original worship line - through ancestors to God in order to escape the current wave of distruction, global warming, inflation, ocean rising, political confusion etc. God is punishing the world because of evil doers. I have recorded a spiritual music DVD called Varimudande meaning those in the other world. I need to sent it to the rest of the world. I have explanations as to why people are gay etc and how to maintain youthfulness without any drugs, how to cope with stress and how to activate other spirit mediums.. also lessons on how to cope with spirit mediumship. The world is under seige so we need to do something spiritually urgently. I am looking for promoters, suppoters and I can display my extreme talent to those willing to verify. I am a star.. I am the first of seven girls in our family and my name is Stella. I am carrying spirits that have come to save the world.. Please help..I do spiriual dances, singing and activation, my body can extract impurities and I can heal chronic illness. I am based in Victoria Falls Zimbabwe and I am staying at my lodge called The Royal Lodge.