oldfart63
BSB Addict
Last Wednesday Grand Rapids, Michigan was one of 26 cities in the U.S. to view an advance screening of the film The Sunday Sessions, in tandem with National Coming Out Day. The Center for Inquiry-Michigan (on whose state Advisory Board I proudly serve) and the Grand Rapids Pride Center co-sponsored the event. The Sunday Sessions is a documentary about Conversion Therapy which is a controversial therapy touting itself as a method to eliminate Same Sex Attraction (SSA). In other words, it will make gay men straight. This "therapy" has been strongly denounced by virtually every medical, psychiatric, and psychological association in the United States. Study after study have shown it ineffective, and in many cases harmful for the patient, yet many religious organizations and families continue to praise its effectiveness.
This is a documentary in its rawest form. In this screening it had no opening or closing credits, though I believe that was due to the rush of having it ready to coincide with National Coming Out Day. There is no score, no music intended to elicit feelings from the viewer. There is no narration. The only dialogue is that of the protagonist, his therapist, and family and a few friends. There is only a black screen with white text to set the time or place of the next scene, just enough for you to follow what is going on. Director Richard Yeagley received permission to film the sessions as they were, in both private and group settings, and with private family moments as well.
Following the screening there was a discussion with Larry DeShane, Center Administrator of the Pride Center, Dr. Matt Clark a Clinical Psychologist at the Clark Institute and The Gay Christian Therapy Center, and Jennifer Beahan, the Program Director at CFI-MI. Maybe it was just because of a biased crowd, but I think anybody with any empathy could see the tremendous turmoil the young man was going through. At one point I had to get up and step out of the room. I wanted to either shout, "Why are you taking this abuse?" or just hold the young man. Personally, I think what I saw on the screen was an abuse of authority and trust bordered on malpractice. I'll let others decide for themselves.
The question I asked afterwards was, "When and where will this be released for others to see?" Unfortunately the didn't have the answer to that. If you want to find out more about this or to read the Director's comments, go to thesundaysessionsmovie.com. The movie is well worth seeing, though you might want to take a strong drink first. You'll definitely want one when it's over.
This is a documentary in its rawest form. In this screening it had no opening or closing credits, though I believe that was due to the rush of having it ready to coincide with National Coming Out Day. There is no score, no music intended to elicit feelings from the viewer. There is no narration. The only dialogue is that of the protagonist, his therapist, and family and a few friends. There is only a black screen with white text to set the time or place of the next scene, just enough for you to follow what is going on. Director Richard Yeagley received permission to film the sessions as they were, in both private and group settings, and with private family moments as well.
Following the screening there was a discussion with Larry DeShane, Center Administrator of the Pride Center, Dr. Matt Clark a Clinical Psychologist at the Clark Institute and The Gay Christian Therapy Center, and Jennifer Beahan, the Program Director at CFI-MI. Maybe it was just because of a biased crowd, but I think anybody with any empathy could see the tremendous turmoil the young man was going through. At one point I had to get up and step out of the room. I wanted to either shout, "Why are you taking this abuse?" or just hold the young man. Personally, I think what I saw on the screen was an abuse of authority and trust bordered on malpractice. I'll let others decide for themselves.
The question I asked afterwards was, "When and where will this be released for others to see?" Unfortunately the didn't have the answer to that. If you want to find out more about this or to read the Director's comments, go to thesundaysessionsmovie.com. The movie is well worth seeing, though you might want to take a strong drink first. You'll definitely want one when it's over.
