Listen "14: The Opposite of Therapy"
Episode Synopsis
A medically discredited practice known as “conversion therapy” seeks to change the sexual orientation or gender identity of LGBTQ+ people. Medical experts long ago reached the conclusion that this practice is harmful, and many of the leading founders of “ex-gay” organizations have apologized and renounced their own work in the past decade. So why are South Carolina’s most powerful politicians pushing to bring it back? This week on the podcast, we’re diving deep with survivors of conversion therapy and the Columbia locals who showed up in droves to oppose the City of Columbia’s recent decision to rescind a ban on juvenile conversion therapy. What does it mean when the capital city takes a big step backward like it did this spring? Links to organizations mentioned in the episode: Harriet Hancock Center: https://www.harriethancockcenter.org/ PFLAG: https://pflag.org/findachapter/ ACLU of South Carolina: https://www.aclusc.org/en/news/5-things-know-about-conversion-therapy-columbia-south-carolina Articles referenced: “I survived conversion therapy. Columbia shouldn’t support it.” https://www.postandcourier.com/free-times/free-times/opinion/column-conversion-therapy-survivor-columbia-sc-ban/article_66bb062f-ac20-4169-ae45-1e7c93461dfa.html “'Taught to hate myself': How gay conversion therapy in SC is thriving” https://www.postandcourier.com/news/taught-to-hate-myself-how-gay-conversion-therapy-in-sc-is-thriving/article_3b53124c-abb9-11e8-8428-ef7b8427bd63.html “One of the nation's largest conversion therapy networks is disbanding” https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/one-nation-s-largest-conversion-therapy-networks-disbanding-n1231574 Music on this episode is by Daft Hartley and A Spot on the Hill.
More episodes of the podcast While I Breathe
16: ICE Invades South Carolina (Part 2)
20/10/2025
15: ICE Invades South Carolina (Part 1)
28/08/2025
13: Meet Your Trans Neighbors
06/06/2025
12: School Vouchers Are a Disaster
21/01/2025
11: New Year, Same Struggle
23/12/2024
10: Not Helping But Harming
15/10/2024
9: Gerrymandering Is Over (If You Want It)
02/08/2024
8: Without a Prayer
25/07/2024
7: Fighting for the Freedom to Read
28/06/2024
6: Whose Maps? Our Maps
24/05/2024
ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.