This collection of stories was simultaneously eye-opening and heartbreaking. Hearing that these people were raised to believe (and often told time and again) that they are abominations that need to change the very essence of who they are in order to be accepted makes me feel so sick and sad and angry. Nobody, especially no child, should ever be made to feel that way.

It seems like the authors of these stories have found some peace in their lives, and I wish that for any reader who feels the same way. You are perfect as you are!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This 3 star read is a series of eighteen essays written by those subjected to conversion therapy, the false doctrine that is in no way connected to anything scientific which says a LGBT person can make him/herself straight. Let’s pray the gay away, y’all!

The writers have had these sometimes horrific, always futile experiences in “a clinic, a pastor’s office, a camp, a private university, around a dining room table, inside [their] head.” And methods include (think of the people of Salem trying to get women to admit that they are witches) “talk-therapy counseling, “support” groups and camps, transphobic healthcare practices, “corrective” prayer, forced celibacy, coerced sexual relations or relationships, behavioral suppression and “correction,” aversion therapy, electroshock therapy, online programs and, everyone’s favorite, exorcisms.” (The “everyone’s favorite” might have been me.)

The stories are so disheartening and sad, because almost to a person, every one of the people subjected to these therapies sincerely wanted to change, generally because they were taught, by their religion, that being gay was a terrible sin and they would burn in hell for loving who they loved. The religions? Typically fundamentalist or Pentecostal with a smattering of Catholics, one Orthodox Jew and one person raised up in an odd cult.

The horrible Bill Gothard (of Duggar fame) makes an appearance as does the odious Exodus International, an organization which maintains it’s not enough to remain homosexual and celibate, one must actual change one’s sexual or gender identity. If you are gay, you must actually alter your thinking such that you become attracted to the opposite sex, marry and have children. Let me also tell you about the low, low long-term success rate for this. Oh, and about the self-loathing. And the suicides.

What did I take from this? First, if you want to be involved in a church, normal churches only, people. Look around. Do you ever hear anything good about fundamentalist churches? I do not. They seem to hate everyone who is not a part of the fundamentalist church. Doesn’t sound like what Jesus would have wanted.

The book is a little odd in that most of the writers seem to have gone through conversion therapy some time ago. The book would be stronger with more current examples. Hopefully this means the activity has fallen from favor, but looking at the number of people attending Trump rallies I have to assume it is still going on. Interesting.

This was a fabulous read though very painful. I keep thinking that these writers are so strong and brave to write about these experiences.
All the stories were nicely written and makes you think. It would make good horror stories. I really enjoyed it.

Shame-Sex Attraction is a sucker punch of a book highlighting the complexities and heart-breaking experiences of those who suffered at the hands of institutions who promised to do right by them. Despite the fact that some of the accounts in the book are gut-wrenching and traumatic, the featured authors find a way to reinforce the importance of accepting oneself. A very thoughtfully crafted collection of stories, Shame-Sex Attraction has the ability to bring new light, and open up new conversations, about the horrific practice of conversion therapy.