Critique: Boy Erased (Film)

This film follows the real-life story of Jared, a southern American. Marshall, Jared’s father, says Jared can’t live under his roof if he goes against his beliefs, i.e. being gay. This is why Jared is forced into going to ‘Love in Action’ which provides gay conversion therapy. The plot follows two timelines. One is Jared’s experience at Love in Action. The second shows what lead up to Jared being sent there.

 

Content Warning: sexual assault.

 

*****SPOILERS*****

 

There is one event more than any other that leads Jared into going to conversion therapy.

When Jared goes to college, we see the development of his relationship with Henry. Then Henry rapes Jared. This came out of the blue for the audience (as it often does for the victims).

The way Jared struggled and screamed was so emotional. It was directed and acted to a very high standard. Henry then outs Jared to his parents. Jared could have denied he was gay but he eventually relents. He doesn’t want to live a lie any more.

But for someone’s first sexual experience to be stolen like that, for the way you’re outed by something traumatic… it’s horrifying.

 

Sometimes the behaviour of characters was unbelievable. Not that I don’t believe people can act like that but it stuns me that people will act like that.

One ‘patient’, Cameron, is beaten with a Bible. The ‘therapists’ even made Cameron’s younger sister beat him with a Bible. This shows disrespect to the Bible, using it like a common mallet. Surely? It’s a sacred text, the very foundation of your beliefs, and yet you’re using it like a thug uses a weapon? Astounding.

When the ‘patients’ gave testimonies, they were very sexually detailed. Forcing teens to talk like this seems out of place. But then they were filmed! Why? For bribery? For some sick pleasuring? Just what!

Marshall tells Jared he feels resentful that he’ll never have grandkids. If Jared was an infertile straight man, you wouldn’t be resentful then, would you? The options are the same whatever the reason you can’t ‘have’ kids: adoption, IVF, surrogacy… It shouldn’t matter. Your opinions on your children shouldn’t be based on their capability to give you grandchildren. Loving your children should come before desiring grandchildren.

 

Although we see much negative behaviour, we do get good moments.

One of the best lines from the film was that a dollar, no matter how much it’s crumpled or torn, it never loses its value. This is a really moving speech. It’s just a shame it comes from the awful source of a Love in Action therapist.

Xavier was so sweet. He kept on telling Jared nothing needed to happen. He goes to bed and eventually Jared follows. Fully clothed, they touched each other’s faces and held hands. This was so, so sweet.

Even though Jared made a big fuss at conversion therapy about not being mad at his dad, he tells his dad off four years later. Some might say this is hypocritical. Not so. Conversion therapy wanted the ‘patients’ to be mad at their parents for making them gay. Jared was mad at his dad for the way he treated him for being gay.

I was so glad when his mum Nancy put her foot down and took Jared out of the conversion therapy. Love of your child should always be stronger than the fear of your husband.

 

Love in Action has all these views on homosexuality which are, quite simply, bogus.

At Love in Action, homosexuality is perceived as a choice, like being a football player is a choice. No one would choose to alienate themselves from their families and friends. No one would choose to have their future ruined.

At Love in Action, they say being gay is straying off Jesus’ path. Jesus said nothing about being gay so how can being gay have anything to do with Jesus’ path?

At Love in Action, they say God won’t love you if you stay gay. Christianity teaches that God is a loving god, a forgiving god. So even if homosexuality was wrong, it wouldn’t matter.

 

My goodness, what a film.

Both in Marshal’s attitudes and the therapist’s actions, it infuriated me that people can be this cruel to someone. Especially over an issue that causes no harm whatsoever. Even if you disagree with something, you shouldn’t abuse another person.

Then finding out this was based on real-life events was soul-shattering. This film could be a very useful tool to help people understand abuses that are falsely carried out in the name of a loving deity.

(Just as a side note: Marshall is both a pastor and a cars salesman. How on Earth does he have the time for that?!)