"I have a Queery about...Surviving" ft. Justice

Queer Queeries

"What are some of the most extreme forms of intolerance?" "What happens at a conversion therapy camp?" "Is that still allowed?" "How do you survive?" "How do you continue surviving?"
On this episode, I interview my dear friend, talented lighting designer, and overall wonderful human being, Justice (they/them, he/him) where we discuss their experience of going to a "restorative therapy camp" (also known as a conversion therapy camp), as well as the lasting effects this can have on a Queer person. Justice--like the experience of many Queer people--was born into a heavily Christian and Texan family who believed that loving someone of the same-sex was a mental illness that could be fixed through "proper treatment." It was after their mom discovered their internet browser history and what they had been looking at that they were awakened in the middle of the night and forced to go somewhere where they had no knowledge of the horrors they would endure.
This unfortunate narrative is common for many Queer people and a very real part of Queer history. It was in 1973 that homosexuality was deemed not a mental illness or sickness by the American Psychiatric Association (APA). However, Queer people and allies are still fighting to this day for this to actually be a reality. Twenty-Nine states still have no laws that ban conversion therapy; qualified transgender Americans are banned from serving in the military; and it wasn't until recently that Title VII included discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identification. In listening to this episode, I, Justice, and countless other Queer people who face discrimination hope you not only love and nurture Queer people but actively work to protect us and our rights as well.
Follow Justice:
Website
Instagram
Organization of the Week: National Center For Lesbian Rights Born Perfect campaign
Born Perfect
NCLR
Donate
Resources for further learning:

• Watch Boy Erased
• "When Gay Was Not Okay with the APA: A Historical Overview of Homosexuality and its Status as Mental Disorder"
• "The Lies and Dangers of Reparative Therapy"
• "Frequently Ask Questions on the Transgender Military Ban"
• Join The Trevor Project to End Conversion Therapy

Show Produced by Nick Eibler
Edited by Addison McKissack
Theme Song written by Matt Gregory, Colin Egan, and Mike Hubbard
Produced by Colin Egan and Mike Hubbard
Logo Design by David Pavón