The Mattachine Society of Washington "Love in Action" Collection

Scope and Contents

This collection contains papers, publications, pamphlets, and newsclipping relating to the gay to straight (known as ex-gay), conversion therapy program, Love in Action (LIA). This collection contains the papers of John Smid, former director of the Love in Action program in Memphis, Tennessee. There are also materials from other ex-gay programs New Hope Ministries and Exodus. Series 2 contains Garrard Conley's (author of ) workbook and a folder of loose material from his time in the Love in Action program. Series 2 also contains the Love in Action class manual, . Series 4 and 5 contain a variety of publications, writings, and audio-visual materials from groups and programs dedicated to conversion therapy.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged into five series.

Biographical / Historical

Love in Action was founded in 1973 in San Rafael, California. Their motto was, "Finding freedom in Jesus Christ from sexual and relational sin." The first two paragraphs of this history are taken directly from their archived website,

"Love in Action International (LIA) was founded by Frank Worthen in 1973. At age 43 Frank rededicated his life to Jesus after 20 years of pursuing homosexual behavior. With his testimony and a newspaper ad, Frank proclaimed a seldom-heard message: "There is a way out of homosexuality, and his name is Jesus Christ!"

"Love in Action is the oldest established member ministry of Exodus International, a nationwide referral network. We are a referral ministry of Focus on the Family and the American Family Association. Known around the world for our residential discipleship programs, we have had clients from all over the US and more than a dozen countries. In 1994 LIA moved from its original home of San Rafael, California to Memphis, Tennessee. Memphis has been a hospitable home, and its many vibrant churches play a crucial role in the ministry. In 2001 LIA started a groundbreaking residential discipleship program. Since then, hundreds of men and women have found freedom and significance in Christ through this uniquely powerful experience. We are privileged to be involved in serving the people of God by partnering with them in their journey out of bondage and into the freedom and power of obedience to Jesus Christ."

After the settlement of a lawsuit between LIA and the State of Tennessee and the departure and recanting of the program by director John Smid, Love in Action was repackaged into Restoration Path in 2012. Restoration Path is headed by David Jones and continues to exist in Tennessee.

Garrard Conley, the author of , is a survivor of the conversion therapy program that was based in Memphis and headed by John Smid. recounts Conley's experiences in the program. The book is the basis for the motion picture of the same name.

Website accessed 2018 July 10: https://web.archive.org/web/20110803195310//http://www.loveinaction.org/aboutus

Founded in 1961 by Franklin Kameny and Jack Nichols, the Mattachine Society of Washington, DC was the first gay civil rights organization in Washington, DC. The Society has actively worked to seek out and archive papers and collections directly related to LGBT history.