Skip to main content

You make this possible. Support our independent, nonprofit newsroom today.

Give Now

This man is sharing his experience at gay conversion therapy

caption: Garrard Conley, author of 'Boy Erased'
Enlarge Icon
Garrard Conley, author of 'Boy Erased'
Courtesy of Colin Boyd Shafer

Earlier this month, Seattle became the third city in the country to ban gay conversion therapy. It's an issue that touches Garrard Conley close to home. He grew up in Arkansas, the son of a pastor.

When he was 18 years old, his parents found out he was gay and gave him an ultimatum: Go to gay conversion therapy, or you are no longer a part of this family.

Conley went to a place called Love in Action in Memphis, where they performed the therapy. It's the subject of his new memoir, "Boy Erased."

He told KUOW's Bill Radke about his experience at Love in Action, how he feels about Seattle's recent move to ban the therapy and what else, in his opinion, needs to be done.

Why you can trust KUOW