Exodus International’s flagship ‘ex-gay’ residential treatment facility, Love in Action, is facing possible closure by the state of Tennessee for unlawfully treating mentally ill gay men.Founded in 1973, Memphis-based Love in Action claims that it is the oldest and largest group to focus on the “prevention or treatment” of same-sex attraction.
The organization made national and international news earlier this year after a Tennessee teen wrote on his blog that his parents were sending him to the program in an effort to change his sexual orientation, and appealed for help.
Amidst the outpouring of concern for the teen, reports surfaced that Love in Action clients had been traumatized by their treatment at the program.
Questions arose about whether the facility was operating within the law.
On Sept. 12, the state of Tennessee announced that its Department of Mental Health & Developmental Disabilities had determined that Love in Action is operating two “unlicensed mental health supportive living facilities.”
“The [state] went in and visited and found that they were providing room, board and personal care for mentally ill people,” said Rachel Lassiter, deputy press secretary for Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen (D). “The clients were determined to be mentally ill because some of them had been treated by psychiatrists and were on medication.”
It appears that Love in Action has taken on responsibility for the care of these people, Lassiter said, and unlawful operation of a personal support service is a class D misdemeanor in Tennessee.
from New York Blade Online
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