Here is a small description of my story and experiences around surviving LGBTQIA+ conversion/change and suppression practices. Those close to me know of this part of my journey, but I realise there are many of you who may not. It was a harmful part of my life for a very long time.
The film PRAY AWAY is very special to me - as is it my story too. Over many years I travelled from Australia to the USA to attend the groups and events featured in the film. Shoutout to my brave friend Julie Rodgers, who I went through a lot of this with. I sought help from these organisations, and equivalents in Australia, as a result of absorbing messaging from very early childhood that I was ‘broken/mentally ill’ and needed to be ‘fixed’.
A lot has changed for me since then, I have moved on and found a joyful life, but still have to work at unpacking and healing the damage and harm these ideologies caused.
These practises are still very much alive and continuing all over the world - and consequently still causing tremendous harm.
If you would like to deepen your understanding around this subject, and also understand my story a little more, I invite you to watch Pray Away Film. Streaming now on Netflix. www.prayawayfilm.com/
Trigger warning: discussions of LGBTQIA+ conversion/change and suppression practices, and suicide. If you have been directly impacted by the conversion therapy, change and suppression ideologies, and ex-LGBTQIA+ movement, PRAY AWAY can be a hard watch. Visit www.prayawayfilm.com/resources for mental health suggestion and resources.
#prayaway #prayawayfilm #conversiontherapy #lgbtqia #Pride