‘Gay conversion therapist’ comes out: Exclusive interview

For decades, Mr Matheson - a Mormon - ran retreats offering therapy to suppress or manage sexuality, - claiming to help people live as straight men rather than gay.

In an exclusive interview with this programme he's now conceded that the practice, which almost 700,000 Americans have undergone, is not only built on a harmful philosophy but should be banned.

We are also joined from New York by Chaim Levin, who twice attended retreats co-founded by David Matheson.

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[Metonymy]

People didn't know he was gay? I mean, gaydar is screaming.

[dennismullen]

This guy should be ashamed of himself for what he put kids through for years.

[blairtim-ryqy]

This piece of garbage made himself rich off of torture.
His victims should be allowed to sue him for damages.
I wish they could prosecute him.

[EvadoCouto]

Good for him but I can't help but resent the massive harm he inflicted. Utah has astronomical rates of teen suicide, largely due to how LGBT folks are treated. I'm glad he's being his true self and he does seem sorry but it's just so heart-breaking and maddening

[peternolan]

Glad he has come out and admitted he was so wrong. He now needs to spend the rest of his life atoning for the evil he perpetrated.

[ASM]

This guy doesn't feel nearly guilty enough.

[strictlykev]

He can't even give straight answers when it comes to denouncing it. He sounds like a politician. If he truly feels bad he would spend the rest of his life making up for this and fighting against this treatment.

[TIMCATPRODUCTIONS]

Knowing that this is STILL going on in 2019 is DISGUSTING & DANGEROUS!

[CaapriceTube]

HE BASICALLY WAS JUST DOING THAT OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS, TO SUPPRESS HIS TENDENCIES.
Like my Mom always told me, when you see people who are so in despise or against something it’s cus their struggling with that same thing.

[HannahBananerz]

its weird how he won't outwardly denounce conversion therapy but will denounce all aspects of it ???

[superashu]

Waiting for my homophobic father to come out 👀

[stanarnaud]

My heart goes out to the LGBT community because of people like this. He barely feels remorseful. He talks about it in a way like he's taking about the cringey stuff you did in middle school or the drunken mistakes you did in college. He is literally responsible for the trauma (and deaths) of many innocent people. He can never wash off the blood on his hands but he should spend every day of his life fighting the vile hate he propagated if he has a chance of redemption

[tymax]

All you need is one man's self-loathing to screw up other people's lives. He should be held responsible for all the damage he's done to all his victims.

[blerghify]

"held me back" PEOPLE KILLED THEMSELVES

[rr]

Humans are so predictably irrational. It would be funny if not for all of the suffering he must have left behind.

[alanmacification]

Conversation therapy is now banned in Canada. It was passed unanimously with no opposition whatsoever.

[aurorawolfe]

OH, gay conversion "therapy" doesn't work? Wow! Who could've known?




(Sarcasm)

[Starkardur]

I'd rather go straight than date him so I guess his therapy may work in some cases

[wesleyrodgers]

Doesn't surprise me in the least.

[sebo]

I feel like everyone deserves a second chance but I’m really having a hard time finding sympathy for or forgiving this man.