In light of the Colorado Supreme Court case Charles v. Salazar and prior conversation with Julia Sadusky and other conversations with Side X guests, we dig into Conversion Therapy (also called Reparative or Reintegrative Therapy), particularly how it intersects notions around the fluidity of sexuality. Reports on sexual fluidity opens new questions to the ethics of conversation therapies, and maybe different analysis has to why the “change is possible” narratives (e.g. Exodus Ministries) were so destructive. But maybe alternative approaches like “bisexual responsiveness” via Camille Paglia (see the linked Cracks in Postmodernity essay) suggest a different outlook on the whole affair, and open doors to intriguing considerations of the queer experience and same-sex friendship/romantic friendship.

References:

A fascinating article with so many intriguing quotes:

Cracks in Postmodernity: Conversion Therapy vs. Bisexual Responsiveness

Our episodes about/with Side X guests:

#54 - Side B & Side X in Dialogue: With Jason Thompson from Portland Fellowship

#48 - What Is Transformation? with Agape First Ministries

#41 - Unexpected Shifts: Josh’s Story of Prayer, Healing, and Attraction

#35 - Marco Casanova on Integration, Healing, and Orientation

Time Stamps:

00:00 Have you thought of joining us at Revoice?

02:31 Kinship Lab on Conversion Therapy

04:09 Sexual Fluidity Debate

06:33 Tyler’s Harvard Story

10:46 Exodus and Pray Away Documentary

14:39 Modern Reorientation Claims

19:14 Identity Versus Desire/Attraction

24:25 Side B Growth and Chastity

28:19 Defining Attraction, Sanctification and Bisexual Responsiveness

35:36 On Noticing Beauty and Desire

40:53 Paglia and Rigid Labels

45:50 Sexual Category Origins, Queer Identity, and Fluidity

51:29 Friendship Versus Therapy

57:14 Chastity and Same Sex Love

01:04:35 Romantic Friendship Debate

01:06:07 Humility and Closing Thoughts