Netflix conversion therapy documentary
A new documentary set to probe the origins of the reparative therapy movement ― also known as “gay conversion” therapy ― is due out on Netflix next month.
The streaming platform on Monday unveiled the trailer for “Pray Away,” which is produced by Ryan Murphy and Jason Blum for Blumhouse Television. The film, which premieres Aug. 3, charts the rise and drop of Exodus International, a Florida-based Christian ministry that for nearly 40 years claimed to offer a “cure” for same-sex attraction, before shuttering in
The American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics have discredited conversion therapy, and 20 U.S. states have legislation in place banning the rehearse on minors. As “Pray Away” shows, many of the leaders once adj with Exodus International later came out as LGBTQ and denounced the exercise themselves.
Catch the “Pray Away” trailer below.
Originally slated to hit theaters in , “Pray Away” had its world premiere last month at the Tribeca Film Festival after being postponed due to the COV
Kristine Stolakis’ uncle struggled with his sexual identity and mental health issues his whole life.
After he died, she found a conversion therapy pamphlet among his possessions – conversion therapy representing the ill-conceived notion, mostly pushed in religious communities, that you can overcome homosexuality or gender identity issues to become straight. Usually, this involves prayer and coercive counseling that is not at all based in science and frequently it causes significant psychological and emotional trauma.
Horrified, Stolakis, a filmmaker, began deeply researching the topic and now is making her documentary feature debut with “Pray Away” on Netflix. The film tells the story of four former conversion therapy leaders who possess not only left the movement, but renounced it and are working to put an end to this harmful practice.
But it also weaves in the current work of Jeffrey, a self-identified “ex-trans,” who is hard at labor keeping the conversion therapy movement alive. To provide perspective, Stolakis also includes the story of Julie, who was pushed by her mother in
'Pray Away' details trauma of LGBTQ conversion therapy – and new leaders are still emerging
You may assume you know everything about LGBTQ conversion therapy because you read disturbing headlines and cringed at movies like "Boy Erased." But you don't even know the half of it.
Netflix's newest documentary, "Pray Away" (now streaming), offers viewers a deep dive into the conversion therapy movement, featuring interviews with former leaders as well as a survivor – plus a peek at what it looks like today. Yes, conversion therapy is very much alive.
For the uninitiated: Conversion therapy, or reparative therapy, is when a religious leader, licensed counselor or peer support group tries to change someone's sexual orientation or gender identity. All major medical and mental health organizations vilify the practice and contemplate it harmful.
The documentary explores the popularization of conversion therapy with a focus on Exodus International, a group begun by five men struggling with their sexuality in the s. They started a Bible study to try to become straight, and ultimately formed w
Netflix’s Pray Away shows us the horrors of religious conversion practices - here’s why we demand a ban without exceptions
Netflix’s new documentary Pray Away follows the actions of Exodus, a religious group who told LGBTQ+ members – and their families – that they could change who they were.
This important film follows survivors and former leaders of the group, many of whom have now renounced the ‘church’.
While it can be easy to think of conversion practices as something of the past, they can – and do – still happen to lesbian, gay, bi, trans, queer, intersex and ace people across the United Kingdom today.
So, what actually are conversion practices?
Conversion practices are any intervention that seeks to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. Conversion practices work towards one goal, and that goal is to ‘cure’ someone from being lesbian, gay, bi, trans, ace, intersex and/or queer.
Conversion practices are one-directional: the intention is to get a person to change or cancel their sexual orientation or gender identity. This is the opposite of ap