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June 23, 2005
And they say we hurt children?
On May 29, A 16 year old Tennessee teen blogged that his parents sat him down and told him he was going to 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 [sic] the rest of those kids who complain about their parents on blogs — and I can’t help it,” Zach wrote.
“I’ve been through hell. I’ve been emotionally torn apart for three days... I can’t remember which days they were … time’s not what it used to be,” the teen wrote in his last blog entry, posted June 3.
The teen also posted what he said were the rules for Refuge that were e-mailed to his parents: “No hugging or physical touch between clients. Brief handshakes or a brief affirmative hand on a shoulder is allowed …
“LIA wants to encourage each client, male and female, by affirming his/her gender identity,” the rules continued. “LIA also wants each client to pursue integrity in all of his/her actions and appearances. Therefore, any belongings, appearances, clothing, actions, or humor that might connect a client to an inappropriate past are excluded from the program. These hindrances are called False Images. FI behavior may include hyper-masculinity, seductive clothing, mannish/boyish attire (on women), excessive jewelry (on men), mascoting, and ‘campy’ or gay/lesbian behavior and talk.”
The "LOVE IN ACTION" is apparently shaming sessions, where the teen has to once a day describe their sins in detail in front of 50-60 people and parents on parents night and everyone is encouraged to "openly sh ame" the individual. And come on, isn't that what love is all about?
Refuge offers a two-week program for $1,500 and a six-week program for $4,000, according to its Web site. Since its inception three years ago, the program has hosted more than 20 participants, according to Rev. John Smid, Love In Action’s executive director.
You know, I have to say that of all the things my friends have been through, rape, incest, physical abuse, none have been so lasting and damaging as living with extremist fundamentalist. Zach, my heart is with you.
| By Stella Blue | 11:34 AM
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È Down every lonely street that’s ever been... from 10,000 Monkeys and a Camera
Welcome another new blogger to the neighborhood! Stella Blue just joined us on Chattablogs, and her first major post is about the West Tennessee gay teen who is being abused by supposed adults who think that his orientation can be... [Read More]
Tracked on June 23, 2005 12:49 PM