Dallin H. Oaks Denies Aversion Therapy at BYU

November 22, 2019

Dallin Oaks recent denial that electroshock gay aversion therapy took place during his administration at BYU landed on my mind with a dull thud. Somewhat like the child, crumbs still on his lips, who denies he ate the cookie—it’s impossible to take him seriously. The facts in the case are indisputable and widely known. Elder Oaks is not telling the truth.

I feel like I should be outraged, but somehow I’m not—probably because this is about what I’ve come to expect from Dallin Oaks and I’ve already opted out of trusting him. Instead, what I feel is fatigue and sadness about the situation so many years ago that caused men to submit themselves to aversion therapy, hoping to cure themselves of being normal; hoping to stay in the graces of a church that grossly misjudged them.

I’ve never received nor practiced aversion therapy. But I know very well the deep feelings of shame that lead some LGBTQ Mormons to try absolutely anything to change themselves. I’ve felt it myself and I saw it in countless clients over the years. That is a heavy and unnecessary burden to carry. That is what causes my feelings of fatigue and sadness.

Watching today’s generation of young LGBTQ people in the LDS Church adds to my heaviness. Some are able to leave the Church with grace; some are able to stay in the Church with grace. But many are becoming deeply scarred right now by the Church’s packaging and repackaging of its inherent homonegativity. I wonder how long these folks can hold out before the bolts holding together their hearts and minds fly loose. And I wonder what price they will pay for submitting themselves to a church that continues to grossly misjudge them.