Yearly Queer
This week is the yearly Queer Issue of the Village
Voice. Although you need a print copy to check out the advertisements and
minor pieces, you can read the major articles online. Be sure to check out Laura
Conaway’s essay
on The L Word where she fantasizes how her life would have been different if there
would have been a show like this when she was growing up.
Oh, and by the way, in the Ilene Chaiken
interview, she said that there wouldn’t be anymore flashbacks from
Jenny in the third season (hurray!). It is about time!
This is sickening....
If you thought the premise behind the movie But I’m a Cheerleader, an
anti-gay deprogramming camp, was purely fiction, guess again. Unfortunately,
it is an all too real tragedy as Zach, a 16 year old from Tennessee has found
out. He writes on his blog about his parents decision after he came out to them,
to send him to a fundamentalist Christian program to bring him back to the church.
“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, joining the rest of those kids who complain about their parents
on blogs – and I can’t help it.” (more...)
The next day, Zach posted the rules and regulations of the program.
“Yeah, I was upset yesterday.. however I found an email about the
rules and regulations of the program. My parents lied to me.. they told me
(29th of May) that they didn't know what the rules were exactly, however,
this email wasnt sent on the 26th of May. I see now why they "didn't
know what the rules were." It's horrible.. they're posted below.. and
I so worried. It's like boot camp... but worse. I obviously was not supposed
to see this.. Seeing the bottom say "Parental Rules (not to be given
to client)"
What is with these people...? Honestly.. how could you support a program
like this? If I do come out straight I'll be so mentally unstable and depressed
it wont matter.. I'll be back in therapy again. This is not good." (more...)
Zach was able to complete two more entries, June
3rd and June
4th before the program began. He has not been heard from since. We can only
hope that he has found the strength to get him through this ordeal.
UK Gay News has an article
about Zach with extensive links to other stories and news articles on Zach.
This is sickening. I guess we can take some comfort in the fact that this story
is coming out. Hopefully there will be enough of an outcry to save other children
from this ‘experience’.
9:00:00 PM 
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