How Gay Conversion Therapy Camps Actually Work | Authorized Account | Insider

Insider February 5, 2026
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Garrard Conley was enrolled in the now defunct Love in Action conversion therapy program in Memphis, Tennessee, at age 19. He was sent there by his parents after a classmate disclosed his sexual orientation to them following an assault. Conley grew up in a deeply religious family in rural Arkansas. He says he had to attend the program or face rejection from his family, and he ultimately agreed to take part. Conley talks to Business Insider about the long-term harms of the practice, how it remains legal in much of the US, and how a new Supreme Court case threatens to strip away the few protections that currently exist. In 2016, years after leaving the program, Conley published a memoir titled "Boy Erased," which was later adapted into a film. He's since reconciled with his parents and has dedicated much of his work to educating the public on the dangers of conversion therapy. His educational podcast, "Unerased," traces the history of the conversion therapy movement. The final episode features John Smid, the former director of Love in Action, who has since disavowed the practice and come out as gay. For more: https://garrardconley.com/ https://www.instagram.com/gayrodcon/?hl=en If you are a survivor of sexual assault, you can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline (1-800-656-4673) or visit its website to receive confidential support. 00:00 - Intro 00:32 - The Surveillance 04:59 - The Schedule 08:29 - 12-Step Program 12:11 - The Staff 18:59 - The Backstory 21:29 - The Ultimatum 25:37 - The Application 28:54 - The Escape 33:25 - The Aftermath 36:36 - Boy Erased 38:24 - The History 42:28 - The Future 46:06 - Credits ------------------------------------------------------ #conversion #therapy #AuthorizedAccount Insider's mission is to inform and inspire. MORE AUTHORIZED ACCOUNT VIDEOS: How Guantanamo Bay Actually Works https://youtu.be/995R2j6386o How Bomb Disposal Experts Actually Work https://youtu.be/DncAoMvjeyo How Mercenaries Actually Work https://youtu.be/cX_DXJKZ48w Visit our homepage for the top stories of the day: https://www.businessinsider.com/ Insider on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/insider Insider on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insider Insider on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thisisinsider Insider on Snapchat: https://www.snapchat.com/discover/Insider/2708030621 Insider on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@insider How Gay Conversion Therapy Camps Actually Work | Authorized Account | Insider

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