On March 31, the Supreme Court (SCOTUS) voted 8-1 to overturn Colorado’s ban on conversion therapy. In their ruling, which was seen has a huge blow for LGBTQ rights, SCOTUS sided with lawyers from the Southern Poverty Law-Center designated anti-LGBTQ hate group Alliance Defending Freedom and in turn paved for 23 other states and D.C. to overturn bans.

More than half of the 700,00 Americans who have experienced conversion therapy in the U.S. are minors. And the discredited practice is linked to depression, PTSD, and suicidal thoughts.

Sami Tacher and their father Greg Tacher have experienced the devastating impact of conversion therapy first-hand. Greg, a former elder at The International Churches of Christ in Seattle, initially rejected Sami’s gay identity and supported their journey through years of a conversion therapy program that would result in unbearable loneliness, suicidal ideation and trauma that they still deal with today. 

Through this time, though, Greg slowly deconstructed his faith and has since left the church. Today, the father and son duo say they’ve come full circle and are “best friends.” 

In this episode of “UNCLOSETED, with Spencer Macnaughton,” Sami and Greg share their story. 

“UNCLOSETED, with Spencer Macnaughton” is a new podcast by Uncloseted Media, an investigative LGBTQ-focused nonprofit news publication. Follow and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. YouTube // Spotify // Apple 

For all of our journalism and for links to all our coverage, go to UnclosetedMedia.com 

This story contains mention of suicide and self-harm. If you or someone you know needs support, resources are available here: https://www.unclosetedmedia.com/p/lgbtq-mental-health-resources

Sami’s essay about their experience in conversion therapy can be found here: https://www.unclosetedmedia.com/p/i-live-in-colorado-conversion-therapy 

CREDITS:

Host: Spencer Macnaughton

Audio Production Intern: Bella Sayegh

Editor: Taya Strauss

Social producer/Design: Sophie Holland

Special thanks: Jennifer Moroz and Leital Molad

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