Question F

[Jonetta]

Between Kim and Penn proving Jamie could not have committed suicide and Keats’ revised report, they reclassify his death as a murder. They are led back to the parents, discover Jamie was rejected by them because he was gay and learn they put him in a conversion therapy program. Had you heard of such a thing before? Were Jamie’s parents attitudes about him in death realistically portrayed? Why or why not?

[Sharon]

I heard of these programs. They are big among the "born again" Christian churches I attended for a time. I couldn't believe parents could love their children so little to subject them to this behavior.

Yes, his parents were realistically portrayed for this type. Many people use religion as an excuse to be rigid and unforgiving. I never understood that.

I worked with a guy who told us if his son came home and told them he was gay, he would kick him out of the home immediately. He wouldn't have anything to do with him until he gave up that lifestyle. He was their only child. I was so surprised because their love for their child was so obvious. I challenged him because he loves him so much. He said, "trust me on this."

[Jonetta]

I’d heard of conversion programs but never really knew the details of how they approached converting sexual preference. I never imagined anything like this one.

One of the things I’ve come to understand is how those with extreme views use religion to forward their ideology, which I find insidious. I’m leery of extremes in any direction but how you can reject your child solely because of sexual orientation is beyond imagination. And believing sexual preference is something you can change is baffling.

Jamie’s parents seemed to be authentically portrayed based on what I’ve witnessed in reality. I grew up in a church where homosexuality was deemed to be a sin and my mother held that belief…until she met two of my good friends who were gay and came to adore them. It was a challenge to what she’d been told and it was amazing to see her evolve as she was a woman of strong faith. She eventually came to realize that it was not Christian-like to judge a human being on that basis. But, even before that transformation, I know she would never have rejected me no matter what.

[Lynn]

Yes, I had heard of such programs, but when I was younger they were synonymous with "deprogramming" used to break the psychological hold of cults. Wild that they could even be considered as anything alike. It's funny. The more things change - the more they stay the same.

[Lisa - (Aussie Girl)]

I've heard of them but how they were depicted in this book did seem the extreme end. Thank goodness attitudes are changing about accepting people's sexuality.