I’m going to take a break from analyzing Patrick Strudwick’s article about conversion therapy. I decided that I wanted to take some time to instead address a more personal invitation to the person who found my blog using the following search phrase:
oh god please help me i’m gay and confused iwant to feel loved i can’t stand working: i don’t.
Hello, dear reader. I want to take a moment to welcome you to my blog and my greater site. I’m glad you found me, and I hope you find my writings helpful to you. To be honest, your search phrase suggests that you need a great deal of compassion, understanding, and encouragement. I hope that you find some small portion of it here. After all, it’s one of the reasons I write this blog and work on some of my other writing projects.
You see, I have a pretty good idea of the kind of inner turmoil that caused you to type in that search phrase. I’ve probably felt the same way, myself. In fact, I found myself in a pretty dark place when I was first struggling with my sexuality. So I can tell you that as dark as things may seem, things can get better. There is light at the end of all that confusion.
Granted, it can be a difficult process getting there, and like any life, yours is bound to have it’s sad and painful moments. But anyone who promises you a life that’s devoid of such moments is a con artist. And I believe that in time, you will find that the beautiful and joyful moments. And you’ll discover more about yourself, and might even be surprised by the strength and other qualities you have inside of yourself.
Most importantly, you’ll find that even while confused, you don’t have to be alone. There will always be people you can turn to and talk to. (You’ll even find friends you can turn to in “real life.”) There are other sources of comfort. Even little chance encounters can be a source of surprise and comfort in their own little ways. And in time, you’ll find that it will help you a lot.
So if you come back and read this, I’d invite you to stick around. Please explore what I have to say. Please visit some of the friends’ blogs I list in my right sidebar. You may find many of them quite helpful and inspiring as well. I know I have. And if you’re really daring, please feel free to contact me. (There should be a link to email me at the bottom of this post.) I promise to listen. I promise to answer any question as honestly as I can, even if that answer is “I don’t know.”
Again, dear reader, I want to welcome you to my blog. I hope you find something to help you with your confusion and inner turmoil, even if it’s just a moment’s respite.
I hope you don’t mind me saying so…but Jarred, you’re a gem, and the world is better because of you!
That’s some high praise indeed! Thank you Erin. I consider myself equally blessed because of our friendship.
this is why i love you.
Thanks, Marisa. I love you too. But if you and Erin keep this up, I’m going to blush, cry, or both!
Thank you, Jarred, for your trenchant analysis of Patrick Strudwick?s sessions with the reparative therapists, conversion therapists, or whatever they call themselves.
I?d just like to call your attention to something that I?ve already posted on the Ex-gay Watch website, just in case you haven?t yet noticed it.
You may remember that last June Mrs Iris Robinson, wife of the First Minister of Northern Ireland, made offensive anti-gay remarks in an interview, in which she replied affirmatively and emphatically to the questions, ?Do you think , for example, that homosexuality is disgusting??, ?Do you think that homosexuality should be loathed??, ?Do you think it is right for people to have a physical disgust towards homosexuality??, ?Does it make you nauseous?? and ?Do you think it?s something shamefully wicked and vile?? and added, ?It?s an abomination. How much stronger a word can one use to clarify what homosexuality is to the Lord Jesus Christ?? Her reaction to a brutal attack on a gay man in Northern Ireland was:
?I have a very lovely psychiatrist who works with me in my offices and his Christian background is that he tries to help homosexuals trying to turn away from what they are engaged in.
?And I have met people who have turned around to become heterosexual.?
According to the UK Pink News website, Mrs Robinson?s ?very lovely psychiatrist? is the very same one whom Patrick calls ?David? in his article. See:
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2010/02/02/iris-robinsons-gay-cure-psychiatrists-methods-exposed/#
Hi, William. I had heard that “David” was the same therapist Iris Robinson had mentioned in her infamous interview, but I hadn’t had a chance to read the details. Thank you for posting the link to the article. I hope to do one more entry on Strudwick’s article in order to offer some final thoughts and will probably include this information in it.