Dark Bilious Vapors

I'm a bit late to the party, but....

The story of Zach and his commitment to the LIA/R reeducation camp made the New York Times today. I first found this at Steve Gilliard's News Blog. Steve first quoted LIA/R head honcho John Smid:

"In my life I've been out of homosexuality for over 20 years, and for me it's really a nonissue," Mr. Smid said.

"I may see a man and say, he's handsome, he's attractive, and it might touch a part of me that is different from someone else," he said. "But it's really not an issue. Gosh, I've been married for 16 years and faithful in my marriage in every respect. I mean I don't think I could white-knuckle this ride for that long."

Ok, who believes this.

You know in the 28 years I've noticed potential sexual partners, I've never once said a man is attractive. Not once, at least not in the way I would describe women. So how deep in denial is this guy?

And his parents think they can fix him like a broken watch. It's sad really. In America, if you don't know you like women at 16, you probably don't. Mentally disabled boys want to get laid, for God's sake, so we're talking a basic impulse. And if a 16 year boy says he's gay, well, he's probably gay It can literally be a life or death act. It couldn't be more serious. Not only are you risking parental disapproval, but physical assaults as well, it's no fashion statement. There are no male LUGs. You mess around with guys, it's a defining act.

The odds are high that this kid will be as gay when he leaves as when he comes out. And he should be, because that's who he is. No one raised me to chase women, much less date them, that I learned on my own. Was I recruited into heterosexuality by pretty girls and Penthouse Forum? I don't think so. I was headed that way to start with. So why should it be different for gay men?

• The Memphis News Diva (and one of my all-time favorite people here), Peggy Phillip, picked up on this one.
• Dr. Abby, of course, did too. Dr. Abby also has a couple other pertinent links.
• EJ continues to provide most excellent coverage. Here's his post on an LIA/R group therapy session (note that EJ mentions the presence of the NY Times reporter), and here's a post on Zach's father as a model for irresponsible parenting.

Len on 07.17.05 @ 02:40 PM CST