Garrard Conley’s Conversion Therapy Survival and Ongoing Advocacy
Summary:
Garrard Conley, survivor of the Love in Action conversion therapy program, reveals the lasting trauma of these discredited practices. His forced enrollment at 19 after being outed by his assailant underscores the intersection of religious coercion, LGBTQ+ discrimination, and sexual violence. With 30 US states still permitting conversion therapy, Conley warns about 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis—a Supreme Court case potentially eroding existing state-level bans. His memoir Boy Erased and Unerased podcast provide critical documentation of conversion therapy’s harms, featuring unprecedented testimonies like former Love in Action director John Smid renouncing the practice after coming out as gay.
What This Means for You:
- Legal Advocacy: Contact state legislators to support conversion therapy bans (see current state policies)
- Support Networks: Direct survivors to the Trevor Project’s affirming crisis resources, not faith-based counseling
- Education Priority: Schools and healthcare providers must recognize conversion therapy’s ties to PTSD and suicidality
- Red Flag Alert: The Supreme Court’s conservative majority could weaponize religious freedom arguments to nullify state protections
Original Post:
Garrard Conley was enrolled in the now defunct Love in Action conversion therapy program in Memphis, Tennessee, at age 19. He was sent there by his parents after a classmate disclosed his sexual orientation to them following an assault. Conley grew up in a deeply religious family in rural Arkansas. He says he had to attend the program or face rejection from his family, and he ultimately agreed to enter the program.
Conley talks to Business Insider about the long-term harms of the practice, how it remains legal in much of the US, and how a new Supreme Court case threatens to strip away the few protections that currently exist.
In 2016, years after leaving the program, Conley published a memoir titled “Boy Erased,” which was later adapted into a film. He’s since reconciled with his parents and has dedicated much of his work to educating the public on the dangers of conversion therapy. His educational podcast, “Unerased,” traces the history of the conversion therapy movement. The final episode features John Smid, the former director of Love in Action, who has since disavowed the practice and come out as gay.
If you are a survivor of sexual assault, you can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline (1-800-656-4673) or visit its website to receive confidential support.
Extra Information:
• National Center for Lesbian Rights #BornPerfect Campaign: Legal strategies to eradicate conversion therapy
• APA’s Position Statement: Professional repudiation citing irreversible psychological damage
• Lambda Legal’s Litigation Tracker: Active lawsuits challenging state exemptions for religious providers
People Also Ask About:
- How does conversion therapy cause long-term harm? Techniques like shame conditioning and aversion therapy lead to chronic depression and suicide risk.
- Why is conversion therapy still legal? 20 states exempt religious organizations or lack enforcement mechanisms for existing bans.
- Can survivors sue conversion therapy providers? Yes—multiple successful negligence suits cite violations of standard mental health care.
- Do mainstream religious groups support conversion therapy? The Southern Baptist Convention and Orthodox Jewish groups remain key supporters.
Expert Opinion:
“Conversion therapy’s rebranding as ‘change therapy’ or ‘sexual identity exploration’ masks the same pseudoscientific core,” says Dr. Jack Turban, Stanford LGBTQ+ Mental Health Researcher. “The upcoming SCOTUS ruling on religious business exemptions could functionally legalize these practices nationwide by allowing providers to claim free speech protections for therapeutic fraud.”
Key Terms:
- conversion therapy long-term psychological effects
- Boy Erased memoir survivor testimony
- 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis LGBTQ rights impact
- religious exemption conversion therapy legal loopholes
- John Smid Love in Action director retraction
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