LGBTQ society
There are a few issues that can spark controversies like the issue of homosexuality and the LGBTQ society. These issues have often led to mass protests advocating for equal rights and acceptance of the LGBTQ society. The little known phenomenon that sparks the outrage can be said to be the conversion of individuals in this criteria back to “normalcy”. Boy Erased is a film made in 2018 that depicts a common narrative of conversion necessitated by in-depth religious beliefs. Boy erased shows the fear that members of the LGBTQ society face, the extreme measures taken to deduce them back to societal ideals, and the manner through which society regards them. We will explore these themes through the examination of the protagonist in the film Jared Eamons, his parents, and Victor Sykes- chief therapist of the conversion center.
There is clear oppression sidelined to individuals trying to discover their identities. Henry, a friend to Jared rapes him in an uncontrolled emotional haze and admits to having done the same to another student. Jared does not report the issue to anyone as there is a clear conflict of interest with his parents. His parents are Christians that shun homosexuality as a vice. To them, things are either black or white. The fact that Henry can comfortably admit to having raped another student with no repercussions infuses the kind of society that does not acknowledge the rights of homosexual people. They are forced to hide and resort to bottling up their feeling. Henry uses outing Jared about his sexual orientation as a barraging chip to keep his mouth shut about the ordeal. He understands the magnitude of doing so as the family will be forced to keep silent about his orientation, thereby keeping him safe from prison.
Religion is portrayed homosexuality as a sin so perverse it should be eradicated. Marshall Eamons, Jared’s father is outraged at finding out his son is homosexual. He sees it as a shame and a sin being committed against the family. Being a Baptist preacher he is more concerned about what society will say than the feelings of his son. The religion has been his foreground that it blinds him to what is important, love for his son. The fact that his choice in his son’s future is largely made from the preachers at his church, is a show off the extent religion had ingrained within him. In stark contrast, a rational parent would involve the child in discussing issues affecting them- not individuals irrelevant in concerns. Homosexuality is portrayed as a disease that needs curing, one that religion is against. Marshall forces his son into joining a conversion therapy class that can “heal” him. Faced with being disowned and disillusioned views from his parents he obliges. The society is envisioned with the idea of treatment of a non-existence disease that cares for their children is overlooked. Religion is overcompensating for the lack of understanding by creating methods of recreating people to their “originality”. Concern for the feelings of the young adults is neglected by the fear of not understanding why they act the way they do. Homosexuality is portrayed as a grievous crime that requires prayers and treatment to be done away with, regardless of the psychological effects on the participants.
The conversion therapies use misconstruction of Bible verses and emotive disorienting words to cure homosexuality. Victor Sykes, a former homosexual, is driven to ensure he makes progress by breaking the will of the program participants. They are cut out from the outer world and demeaning words used on them. For instance, Cameron, a participant in the conversion program is forced to endure a mock burial of himself as his family looks on-he is on his knees and constantly gets hit with the Bible by Sykes. Presumably, Sykes is trying to rid him of the “evil” in him using humiliation. A rational person would not resort to mere trickery events that derail human emotions as a means to an end. Victor seemingly thrives in punishing the students, undermining their feelings, and restricting interactions to meet expectations. The bible is interpreted only to terms that match up with the therapy’s goal. There is no show of love for the people in session-they are regarded as sinners. Christianity deems the love for one another a necessity, regardless of all other attributes. Victor takes no heed to this, irrevocably making statements that God would not love the homosexuals for what they are.
There is a lack of concern for the mental health of homosexual individuals at the conversion center. The methods used to drive away homosexuality are degrading. Cameron has to attend his mock burial. An act that takes him to his breaking point, he commits suicide. One of the participants mentions to Jared that to survive through all the activities at the center all he had to do was to fake making progress. The participants can see the detrimental effects it is causing, they chose to fake it because no meaningful progress was being made. People imbued with righteousness intentions as per religious doctrines are honor-bound to maintain the prosperity of each other. The center is centered on doing the opposite. Having been through the conversion himself, Sykes would know what the process drains from participants both emotionally and mentally. Yet, the disillusionment of religious contradictions is amassing him with means through which he inflicts the same kind of pain on the participants.
The center fails to acknowledge the root of homosexuality as being individually born. They are trying to sustain their beliefs in that homosexuals are not born the way they are rather they are made. Participants are forced to draw family lineage tree and write moral vices committed by each family member. The idea is to create an illusion of one of the moral failings of other members as being the cause. They are creating a façade into a more visible problem they can address instead of the personal problem. Putting of blame unto others ensures homosexuals throw their fury at other people to lessen their ability to accept who they are. Such kind of method is morally depriving one of the rights to understand oneself while creating major rifts in families. Embracing such ideas by Sykes is a trial means to ensure the participants do not get to concentrate on themselves.
There is a fear of conversion therapies and the effects of the therapy are depressing. Not only does Cameron commit suicide because of the therapy but Henry commits suicide as well due to the fear of joining the center. The film, however, has a happy ending for the protagonist as his mother comes to pick Jared from the center. His mother is easy going and understanding through the relationship with his father remains largely strained.
Boy erased though having a relatively happy ending for the protagonist, has shown in-depth harm done by conversion therapies. Not every individual is guaranteed safety in the centers as some may be mentally broken before they can understand themselves. Ex-gay movements concerned with such undertaking should reevaluate the teachings they use to implore to others. It is not easy to change an individual’s point of view but as illustrated by the movie, love always wins. Homosexuals should not be shunned or be made “normal”, they should be embraced for who they are- fellow human beings. At all costs, humanity should prevail in interacting with the LGBTQ society, whether an individual is homophobic or not.