Eye-roll inducing news from London: an “ex-gay” admits he still has an attraction toward men.
The new documentary Once Gay premiered at the Emmanuel Evangelical Church in London February 11. The film follows the story of musician Matthew Grech, a singer noted for once appearing on a European version of The X Factor. Grech claims to have been “cured” of homosexuality through conversion therapy–the widely denounced practice of attempting to change sexual orientation, often through religious instruction. In the movie, Grech states that he no longer feels a same-sex attraction.
Following the premiere of the film, however, Grech admits he has not developed an attraction to women. When asked if he still had an attraction to men, the singer told UK site PinkNews “I do, yes… if I had to put it another way, I don’t think I have experienced a specific connection with a woman. For some people, success is if your sexual orientation literally changes, but for some people, success is literally controlling their own thoughts so they don’t go in a specific direction. Just because my flesh has not changed, does not mean I have not changed… I’m simply saying I have moved away from the homosexual lifestyle.” He added that he hopes God will one day make him attracted to women.
Related: Former leader of ex-gay conversion therapy group admits it’s harmful and doesn’t work
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Grech claims to have received his not-so-curative cure from a group called Core Issues Trust, a group run by Mike Davidson. Davidson, who does not hold any certification in medicine or psychology, designed the program based on Evangelical Christian teachings and dismisses the dangers widely associated with conversion therapy. The group is also currently lobbying to overturn a ban on conversion therapy in Grech’s home nation of Malta.
Conversion therapy has become a much-discussed and derided practice in recent years. Virtually every major medical and psychological organization in the world has denounced the practice as reckless and notes that conversion therapy often leads to severe depression, self-harm and suicide. Last year, two well-reviewed films, The Miseducation of Cameron Post and Boy Erased portrayed true stories of LGBTQ people who underwent torturous practices in conversion therapy camps. Moreover, several real-life spokespeople for the ex-gay movement and longtime advocates of conversion therapy have denounced the practice. They include John Smid, former head of Love In Action, David Matheson of the Mormon group Journey into Manhood, and former journalist turned minister Michael Glatze.
WaitUrTurn88
So basically he is practicing Celibacy. Bet u years later hes gonna come out an denounce the whole conversion therpy. But to each its own
ModeI
It seems to me that he is deceiving
Billy Budd
How much did they pay him to lie?
b2rocketfan
When I was in the reparative therapy world for 22 years nobody would have been looking for money if it would have worked. This poor guy is brainwashed into believing he can pray the gay away and is accepting fools gold for fourteen karat.
@HarryB
The society where conversion therapy is used need to be cured. Not gay people
Evji108
So what he is saying is that he has learned how to suppress his sexuality, which is very different from turning straight.
Suppressing one’s sexuality is the way to turn natural sexual urges and attraction into a toxic mix of self loathing, squelched desire and twisted sexual behavior . Good luck with that.
Jack Meoff
Nailed it. Just waiting for the news that he has been caught doing something weird and unsavoury.
Vince
“He added that he hopes God will one day make him attracted to women.”
Ok to play by their own stupid logic. I thought God was infallible and doesn’t make mistakes. Now you’re saying God made a mistake.
I know logic and religion don’t belong in the same sentence but jeez. The loony dude is really drinking the kool aid.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
He only claims to be not Gay because he is so disturbingly unattractive no Gay will give him a second glance much less fcuk him…
b2rocketfan
Because that’s helpful. Lol.
b2rocketfan
I spent 22 years trying to be straight through conversion therapy. This is the kind of stuff we were fed year after year. Repressing who we were was equated to being straight…enough. He’s no more cured than I ever was. It was such a relief to wake up at 40 and decide Maybe I wasn’t straight yet after all the years of therapy, praying, seminars, books, tapes, etc., because I just Wasn’t supposed to be straight. I know many will mock this idea, but it took years to realize I didn’t have to buy into the lie that I could be “made straight”. PS: I’ve been with my partner for 5.5 glorious years and I don’t miss Any of the old church life or pray-the-Gay-away people.