Conversion Therapy Center Founder McKrae Game Comes Out as Gay

McKrae Game founded Hope for Wholeness Network, a so-called faith-based conversion therapy programthat has been trying to turn gay people straight for decades. Now, Game has rejected 20 years of working in conversion therapy (which is rejected by reputable scientists and doctors) and has come out as gay himself.

“It’s all in my past, but many, way TOO MANY continue believing that there is something wrong with themselves and wrong with people that choose to live their lives honestly and open as gay, lesbian, trans, etc.,” Game, 51, wrote on Facebook last week. “The very harmful cycle of self shame and condemnation has to stop.”

A cycle that Game himself perpetuated for most of his career using discredited techniques that are  illegal in 18 states and Washington, D.C.

“I was a religious zealot that hurt people,” Game told the Post and Courier. “People said they attempted suicide over me and the things I said to them. People, I know, are in therapy because of me. Why would I want that to continue?”

Related Article: Transgender Rights Activists Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson to Be Honored With Public Monument in New York City

Along with coming out, Game said that he was wrong create his slogan and the premise of his conversion therapy center: “freedom from homosexuality through Jesus Christ.”

Game came out in June of this year that he was gay. He was fired by Hope for Wholeness’s board of directors two years ago.

Game is one in a laundry list of founders and leaders of homophobic organizations, churches and conversion therapy centers that have come out recently or completely rejected conversion therapy.

In 2014, nine former leaders of homophobic organizations signed an open letter saying conversion therapy is “ineffective and harmful” and calling for an end to it.

A Latter-day Saint counselor who practiced conversion therapy said in January that he is gay and that he “unequivocally renounces” church teachings that condemn homosexuality.

Hope for Wholeness is based in South Carolina. Over the years, it has become one of the country’s  most prominent conversion therapy centers. According to The Washington Post, they did not return a request for comment on Tuesday.

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