Six weeks after
he caused a national sensation with his Web log about
being forced by his parents into an "ex-gay" camp,
16-year-old Zach of Memphis appears to be out. Before
his parents sent him to the ministry, called Refuge,
Zach used his blog to express his despair. On Monday
he broke a six-week silence, posting his seemingly
conflicted feelings upon his release from the program.
Zach now says
that "homosexuality is still a factor in my
life--it's not who I am, it never has been." He also
claims that Love in Action, the group that runs
Refuge, has been misrepresented. But he stood
behind his original posts, which questioned the program and
its methods. Zach deleted the original Web log entries that
received national media attention.
Zach declared
that he had not been brainwashed by the program,
adding that he thinks he is going to be OK. He showed
appreciation for the messages and responses left by
people concerned for his well-being but said he will
not be pressured to make a response of any kind.
Refuge, operated
by Memphis-based Love in Action International, had been
the focus of a state child welfare investigation into
allegations of child abuse, but the investigation was
closed because no evidence was found to support the
charges. Love in Action spokesman Gerard Wellman said
he is working with the state department of health to resolve
other concerns about the licensing of its
substance-abuse treatment program. But Wellman added
that as a faith-based organization, Refuge is not
required to be licensed. (Sirius/OutQ)
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