"I genuinely thought I was evil": Gay 'conversion therapy' survivor speaks out

So-called 'conversion therapy' is a form of torture used against LGBTQ people in Britain and beyond: the human consequences are beyond horrific. Justin Beck is a survivor, who endured years of the practice at a Pentecostal Church: he tells me how he got there, the utter turmoil that was unleashed, how he was driven to the brink of suicide - and how he finally got help. He tells me about finding happiness - but about the devastating long-term consequences, and about those LGBTQ people being subjected to this torture.
We talk, too, about the government's LGBTQ advisory panel being shut down - with one member accusing the Conservatives of creating a "hostile environment" for LBGTQ people - and the failure to properly end this barbaric practice.
CONTENT WARNING: Suicidal ideations, extreme mental distress
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[@OwenJonesTalks]

Please like, subscribe - and help us take on the right-wing media here: patreon.com/owenjones84

[@youtubeareleftwingsellouts9281]

What media is right wing???

[@chriswatson3464]

No you have uploaded some really awful and nasty videos.

[@DayVid2.0]

This is heartbreaking. I honestly thought I was evil too, growing up gay in central Scotland under Section 28 and with zero positive representation in the media, demonised by the press.. "pits and perverts" headlines in the tabloids. I really feel for Justin.

[@DayVid2.0]

@@bigbinji6145 well unfortunately the Pride marches aren't quite enough to undo the shame that gets ingrained into you growing up gay.

[@lerualnaej5917]

@@bigbinji6145 Amazingly, sometimes people listen to their parents and the communities they grew up in more than they listen to strangers. It sometimes takes a lot to break that trust.

[@stevelowry3872]

Wow! Thank you Justin Beck for sharing your story! I’m so glad you’ve survived & turned your life around.

[@brainsandbeauty2832]

I have now watched the video and as a Christian, it's heartbreaking to hear this my heart goes out to him and I hope there can be more love to gay people in the church. I've learnt a lot watching this

[@marcusanjaria1131]

I remember when I was taken to a clinic to help cure me of my same-sex-attractions. It was uncomfortable and embarrassing. And I resisted a number of times. it took me a long time to voice my own opinion and say 'no'.

[@Ember_Green]

We must ban this terrible practice & we must not forget that autistic kids are regularly forced into ABA "treatments" based on gay conversion therapy. Far from being banned, it is still considered to be a "gold standard" despite countless casess of trauma & is advised to parents. It's a hugely lucrative industry. All people deserve respect & freedom to be themselves. Thank you for making this video, Owen.

[@user-ux7yg2ch6i]

I agree. My (adult) son has Asperger's. It's very much like the Barbara Woodhouse method of dog training.

[@WalterKhayyam]

Does the 'therapy' need to be banned outright, or does it just need to be banned if forced on people?

[@lauramartin5579]

@@WalterKhayyam BANNED

[@WalterKhayyam]

@@lauramartin5579 So banned outright, or banned if forced or coerced?

[@albaniaalban]

@@WalterKhayyam Banned, it doesn't work and traumatizes the people forced into it

[@MattSaysHello]

Thanks Owen. Really important issue.

[@Loomx5]

Very moving stuff thanks Justin. Please keep up the content Owen the range and impact of this work is fantastic.

[@juliesetchfield]

I spent some of my formative years in a Pentecostal church, however I am now an atheist, and what Justin describes is pretty accurate and it must be made illegal. I don't know how it could be done, maybe by tightening charitable status rules or through taxation exemptions. It has to be done however as some of the practices done in these kind of churches can be quite toxic.

[@WalterKhayyam]

Does the 'therapy' need to be banned outright, or does it just need to be banned if forced on people?

[@nicis2002]

@@WalterKhayyam I would say banned entirely due to the doubling of suicide rates, and the modern world going toward being accepting of LGBTQIA+. Keeping it is overall harmful and unnecessary.

[@adrenalynn1015]

This is going to help so many vulnerable people and also save lives. Thank you for this interview, it can’t be easy but it’s so important.

[@stephaniecharlton3319]

Just started reading Jeanette Wintersons memoir. She was brought up in the pentecostal church and gay. I'd recommend oranges are not the only fruit too. Justin my heart goes out to you xx

[@learningtofly3116]

Thankyou for being so brave and truthful Justin. I wish you and your fiancée the very best x

[@karinakaminski1945]

Thanks for sharing Justin really appreciate it. I learned so much from this 👍👍👍

[@MartyMOT]

Really important issue that needs talked about more. Thanks Owen for making this video.

[@jamestruth8235]

Talking is meaningless if its not followed up with action. The Tories are a lost cause so pressure must be put on Labour to challenge the government.

[@MartyMOT]

@@jamestruth8235 I agree with you partly and see where you’re coming from, but surely it also needs to be talked about and spread to allow more people to understand what’s truly going on and how horrifying it is.

[@WalterKhayyam]

@@MartyMOT And what is 'truly going on'?

[@youtubeareleftwingsellouts9281]

@@jamestruth8235 🤣😂🤣😂🤣

[@youtubeareleftwingsellouts9281]

@@jamestruth8235 What has the Tories got to do with this you rocket???

[@edricaldones9639]

Owen! You've been to the lawnmower for your haircut again! Interesting interview, however.

[@cristianerehem13]

Owen, your hair is great but you look skinnier, always beautiful. I tried to stay away but I can't, I really like and trust you even when disagree on issues. A great interview and guest, journalistic and at the same time respectful to the emotions of Justin (yeah, it has been practised as opposites), a thin and successfully achieved balance between report and testimony. Congratulations. You're getting better at this challenge in a "cheerleading high school" egotripping alternative media space. You're for real. Congrats to Justin for being a really strong and sensitive person and after all he suffered - that he can keep it because he can be helpful and life saving for so many - a real person of faith uses his/her ordeal to be a truth giver. His survival is his best testimony of faith - in the inner truth - and courage to fight for it. A time well spent in watching you both. 👍🙏 Sampa/SP, Brazil, 14/04/2021 - 20h27 (-3 GMT).

[@youtubeareleftwingsellouts9281]

Thing is if you don’t agree with him you will be ignored because he’s a nasty bigot

[@totonow6955]

Thank you for your story.

[@marcusanjaria1131]

The worst thing is that it happens from people who 'care' about you.

[@jonnymuzzer]

Such a relatable story x

[@kas6223]

Another reminder how incredibly important this channel is

[@Adamb87]

Love to all my brothers and sisters of all sexualities

[@brainsandbeauty2832]

Wow just started watching but thought I'll say, wonderful hair cut Owen

[@TheNadiabear]

Really interesting informative interview Owen. I wish Justin and his future husband luck and love for their marriage, such an open and honest testimony - his eyes still smile in spite of the pain of his past- a very strong young man. Thank you, Owen, for the recent interviews, and you listen with compassion and context.

[@denisegeake2112]

Owen, did you know that the late Ole Ivar Lovaas (among others) was involved in the Feminine Boy Project in the 1970s where he ‘...cataloged and developed interventions into the gender and sexual non conforming identities and behaviours of young people...’ is the same person behind Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) and claimed it would make ‘...autistic children indistinguishable from their normal friends...’ So gay conversion therapy is very similar to autistic conversion therapy , otherwise known as ABA and is beginning to be used UK wide privately and in some schools!

[@FowlorTheRooster1990]

sounds more like electric shock therapy (which can delete memories in our brains)

[@marcusanjaria1131]

i think therapy can help an individual make sense of their experience, and explore pathways of how to deal with their feelings. The most important thing is that the individual is not forced into anything.

[@kristenellie]

Ive been trough exorcism too... but for mostly other things... ugh, it was horrible... Oh Justin you are putting words on my experiences.... I am bi & genderfluid but couldnt come out in the Christian cult I was in before...

[@klisterklister2367]

beautiful

[@totonow6955]

Listen to Reverend Dr. Barber with the Poor People's Campaign to hear real inclusive Christian preaching here on KZbin. Love you both.

[@peteburke6248]

If you want to cover this subject more you should interview Vicky Beeching.

[@joebailey4372]

The word ‘Survivor’ being thrown about a little too loosely.

[@victoriavelvet3689]

Stonewall event soon.

[@WalterKhayyam]

How did Justin end up in conversion therapy, that didn't seem to really be explained?

[@mbapw]

The context is set from 7.34 onwards.

[@WalterKhayyam]

@@mbapw The question isn't answered in that section.

[@PurityVendetta]

Comprehension doesn't seem to be your strong point. Did you actually watch the interview or are you just making contrarian comments to troll?

[@WalterKhayyam]

@@PurityVendetta If I wanted to troll, there would be far easier ways of doing so. Challenging prejudice is never trolling.

[@moritakaishida7963]

He explained exactly how he got there ,stop trolling

[@hughslooskant4420]

all that time for that haircut, you must be gutted Owen