Lies with a Straight Face

Exposing the Cranks and Cons Inside the "Ex-Gay" Industry

De: Wayne R. Besen

Narrado por: Wayne R. Besen

Lies with a Straight Face tells the fascinating story of the precipitous rise and fall of the “ex-gay” conversion industry in a manner that is both enlightening and entertaining. This fast-moving, fact-based book is perfect for those who enjoy the marriage of politics, history and current events.

The book features the riveting story of the 1998 Truth in Love ad campaign, where the religious right’s most prominent organizations joined forces to prove that LGBTQ people could be converted to heterosexuality through prayer and therapy. Their provocative national ad campaign created saturation media coverage, turned “ex-gay” into a household term, and sparked innumerable water cooler conversations.

In this book, you’ll find out the shocking results of the Truth in Love campaign and learn about what happened to their outspoken “ex-gay” poster boys and girls. Lies with a Straight Face also discusses the contemporary con artists in the “ex-gay” industry and offers tangible ways for today’s leaders to fight back.

Lies with a Straight Face is a sequel published on the twenty-year anniversary of Anything But Straight: Unmasking the Scandals and Lies Behind the Ex-Gay Myth. Nominated for two Lambda Literary Awards, Besen’s original book documents the history of conversion “cure” programs from the early 20th Century to 2002. His new book discusses what happened from 2003 up to the present day.

“To prevail in our present-day battles, we must learn from our past,” said Besen. “Ex-gay conversion programs are a farce that wreck families and destroy lives.”

©2023 Wayne R. Besen (P)2023 Wayne R. Besen

Born gay

In-depth research on the faux gay conversion con game mainly in a religious context. It is an overwhelming condemnation. It's a must read for any parent who has a child who is gay and is considering changing them using any of these horrendous organizations. Bisen’s message is Don’t torture your child. Accept and love them and learn as much as you can about supporting them!

Good information but less than normal sound quality

The information presented was quite good. However, the author read his own book. It took awhile to get used to his strident tone while speaking. In addition, the author sounded like he was reading his book from his bathroom. The audio quality was quite echoey. This, also, could be ignored after listening for awhile. I wish he had read his book more calmly and in a much better sound booth. Regardless, the information provided was well researched, and it was quite obvious that the author cared deeply about the subject. I really do recommended this book for those interested in the horrifying practice of LGBTQ reparative therapy.

The nail in the coffin for conversion therapy

Wayne Besen has done it again: brazenly exposed the liars, frauds, and charlatans of the ex-gay industry who profited off of the bigotry and homophobia embedded in conservative, religious communities and society at large. Lies with a Straight Face: Exposing the Cranks and Cons Inside the "Ex-Gay" Industry further proves that Besen is the leading expert in combating the heinous, barbaric practice of conversion therapy. With thorough research and astuteness, Besen walks us through the history of conversion therapy, unsparingly highlighting every lie told and egregious act perpetrated by these "therapists" and ex-gay leaders and the ensuing scandals in which they found themselves. His deft and unflinching voice paints a raw, brutally honest picture of what conversion therapy is and always will be: a torturous, unscientific, and unethical practice that destroys lives and families.

Besen's ability to connect the ex-gay industry to right-wing politics and further elucidate the ex-gay industry's role in the culture wars both in the USA and abroad is masterful. He brilliantly shows us how conversion therapists and ex-gay leaders will stop at nothing to peddle their falsehoods, bigotry, and hatred to anyone who has an ounce of power and influence. I loved how he used survivor stories and interviews with former ex-gay leaders to put the proverbial nail in the coffin of conversion therapy. Lies with a Straight Face: Exposing the Cranks and Cons Inside the "Ex-Gay" Industry is not only a brutally honest revelation into the deceitful world of conversion therapy, it's a clarion call to remain vigilant about the clever ways conversion therapy is still being practiced today and boldly call out these therapists and leaders for the charlatans they are. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants irrefutable proof that sexual orientation and gender identity cannot be changed and that trying to change could cause permanent emotional and psychological. I would also recommend this book to any parent unsure how to respond to their child coming out and thinking that change is possible. I sincerely believe this book will prevent countless LGBTQ youth from being subjected to the torture and barbarism of conversion therapy.

such a powerful message

As a gay man that grew up evangelical in the 80s this was ine of my biggest fears. I'm so glad I never went through that hell