by Alexis

Becoming Herself: A Trans Woman’s Journey Through Identity and Survival

 My name’s Alexis. I’m from Brownsville, Texas.  I grew up very feminine in a conservative family. We grew up on the southern border and I kind of was just developiEventually I got the support from the community that I had, that they were… they were the ones that really made me feel like no matter what you do, if you wanna do it, if you do...

by Mike Hendrix

Gay Man Overcomes Conversion Therapy, Sexual Abuse and Addiction. “I Look at Myself as a Survivor, Not a Victim.”

My name’s Mike Hendrix. I’m from Austin, Texas. As a young child, we moved to Singapore. I was around seven years of age. My parents became Baptist ministers and missionaries....

by Mathew Shurka

Mathew Shurka Talks Conversion Therapy and His Efforts to End It Once And For All.

Nathan: Welcome to this week’s Story Update. Today, we’re going to be speaking with Mathew Shurka, who we spoke with over six years ago. So before we talked to Mathew, let’...

by John Becker

Gay Man Strikes Back Against Conversion Therapy By Going Undercover And Exposing Anti-Gay Clinic.

My name is John Becker. I’m from Green Bay, Wisconsin. I knew I was gay long before I knew what word to attach to it. I knew that the feelings that I was feeling were directed t...

by Braden Bradley

Conversion Therapy Doesn’t Work. “I Actually Felt Closer To God When I Accepted Myself.”

I’m Braden Bradley and I’m from Hallsville, Texas, which is a small town in northeast Texas, close to Louisiana. There’s one stop light and a Dairy Queen and it’s just cut...

by Wanda Martinez-Johncox

Grandma Finds Love Letter To Miss Universe, Sends Lesbian Granddaughter to Mental Hospital.

Special thanks to the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley for being our partner for this story. My name is Wanda Martinez-Johncox, born and raised in Puerto Rico. When I was litt...

by Scott Blair

Gay Law Student Puts Ex-gay Counselor In His Place.

My name is Scott Blair. I’m from Ocean Grove, New Jersey. When you apply to law school these days, you can actually mark on your application if you are openly gay, lesbian, bise...

by Mathew Shurka

Mathew Shurka Forgives His Father After Enduring Years of Conversion Therapy

My name is Matthew Shurka, I’m from Great Neck, New York, I’m 26 years old, and when I was 16, I came out to my father. My father gave me the best answer that any son can ask ...

by Richard Socarides

Richard Socarides Recalls Coming Out To His Dad, One of the Founders of Conversion Therapy

While everyone’s coming out story is different, Richard Socarides’ might be one of the most unique. Richard, who served as President Clinton’s senior adviser on gay rights, TRANSCRIPT: I’m Richard Socarides and I’m from New York City, New York. My father was, his name was Charles Socarides MD. He was the founder, or one of the founders, of the sc...