Camp hetero

Evan Derkacz
,
 AlterNet
and
 Evan Derkacz
June 20, 2005

Bloggers, including comedian Margaret Cho, have been reaching out to Zach, a 16-year-old who, after coming out to his parents, has been sent to a Christian camp (Refuge) to "de-gay" him. "I’ve seen the movie But I’m a Cheerleader, but I guess I’ve been blocking out of my mind the reality that there are camps out there that allegedly make gay kids ‘straight,’ and that parents send their kids to these places," writes Terrance Heath. "Specifically, Zach’s parents are sending him. Apparently, when you’re a 16-year-old gay boy in Bartlett, TN, bad things can happen." From Zach's blog:

Well today, my mother, father, and I had a very long “talk” in my room where they let me know I am to apply for 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 the rest of those kids who complain about their parents on blogs - and I can’t help it.
(Republic of T)

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