Buzz
Not long ago, being lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender was seen as abnormal. Those who identified as part of this community were often rejected and stigmatized as outcasts. Many suffered severe violence, and some even lost their lives due to this prejudice.
While there has been notable progress in the acceptance and respect for LGBT individuals in today's society, violence against them remains a significant issue. The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) reported a disturbing rise in LGBT homicides in the United States, with 2017 setting a grim record by mid-August, marking nearly one murder per week in the LGBT community during the first eight months of the year.
This disturbing data underscores the ongoing struggle for full acceptance of the LGBT community. We must continue to stand against all forms of violence, which should never be tolerated.
Looking back through history, however, we uncover other forms of physical and psychological harm inflicted upon the LGBT community that go beyond street violence or shootings. These abuses are almost unimaginable today, including the misguided attempts to 'cure' individuals of their sexual orientations. Here are 10 of these shocking and harmful therapies.
10. Terrifying Shock Therapy
In the 1970s, being gay in the United States meant being branded with a 'mental disorder.' Although the American Psychiatric Association later removed homosexuality from the list of mental illnesses, many homosexuals still internalized the belief that they were 'sick' and sought treatment for it.
Some of these individuals encountered a device known as the visually keyed shocker during their visits to the doctor. When shown images that would provoke arousal in a homosexual individual, the patient would receive an electric shock. This technique, combining visual stimuli and shocks, was a form of conditioning therapy.
The psychological principle behind this therapy was simple: the brain would become conditioned to associate arousing images with pain, diminishing their pleasurable effect. But where exactly was the shock applied?
It wasn't delivered to the hands or torso. Instead, the device was connected to the genitals, and in some cases, the intensity was extremely high. This method became widely used and was even marketed for home use.
9. Forced Castrations
Let’s take a step back to the 1940s, a particularly dark era for those in the LGBT community. Being gay during this time could mean enduring some of the most horrific treatment, if one wasn’t killed outright first.
Families who knew they had a gay relative often had no choice but to send them to psychiatric institutions. Homosexuality was still classified as a mental disorder, leaving the individual with no say in the matter.
These institutions often promised families that they could 'cure' their loved ones of this 'sexual illness.' Though not the most common procedure, castrations were among the gruesome methods employed.
Castrations, however, were commonly performed in Nazi Germany. Homosexuals in concentration camps often agreed to undergo castration in exchange for a reduced sentence. This was just one of the many 'cures' attempted by the Nazis.
8. Torturous Drug Treatments
While psychiatric facilities aimed at 'curing' homosexuality may seem like a thing of the past, such institutions still exist around the globe.
In 2017, photographer Paola Paredes managed to infiltrate one of these clinics in Ecuador, where she witnessed countless atrocities, including brutal drug treatments. The clinic operated under the guise of being a rehabilitation center but was secretly administering drug cocktails to torment patients.
For decades, so-called torture drugs have been used as a form of conditioning. These drugs aim to associate pleasurable images with intense pain, hoping that the individual will eventually connect their sexual feelings with suffering, thus diminishing their desires.
7. Hormonal Castration
Rather than opting for physical castration, chemical castration was sometimes employed to suppress libido and sexual activity. This method was often part of conversion therapy. A mix of anaphrodisiac drugs was typically administered, usually in these dreadful psychiatric institutions.
Chemical castration is still practiced today. In some countries, offenders like rapists and pedophiles can receive reduced sentences if they consent to chemical castration. There have also been cases where individuals from the LGBT community requested chemical castration, hoping to alter their feelings about their sexual identity.
During his struggle with his own sexuality, rugby referee Nigel Owens once approached his doctor and asked for chemical castration. His doctor refused the request, but Owens later came out publicly in 2007. With support from those around him, he was able to cope with his negative emotions.
6. The Power of Hypnosis
Many people view hypnotists and hypnosis with skepticism. Yet, it remains a well-researched phenomenon, one that can sometimes prove effective. Whether it's used to help people quit smoking or to entertain by making someone dance like a chicken, hypnosis can be a potent tool.
However, there are instances where hypnotists may misuse their power. Despite this, many have willingly sought hypnosis as a method to alter their mental states. In fact, hypnotherapy has been explored as a 'cure' for homosexuality for decades.
Although it may seem surprising, some studies suggest that hypnosis has had limited success. In a 1960s study, 15 homosexual participants were treated with hypnotherapy to change their sexual orientation. The researchers noted that a few participants showed 'mild improvement,' while the majority displayed 'significant improvement.'
Nevertheless, this did not indicate that the patients were 'cured.' Rather, it suggested that some showed less interest in homosexual thoughts and behavior post-hypnosis. The researchers' assessment of their 'improvement' was highly subjective, and follow-ups were limited. Even the study's authors questioned why hypnosis wasn’t used more extensively if it was considered so effective.
Even today, hypnosis continues to be employed as a form of therapeutic intervention.
5. Reparative Therapy
Many of the therapies previously mentioned can be considered forms of conversion therapy, which are intended to 'cure' an individual through psychological or spiritual methods. However, most scientists and regulatory bodies view these practices as damaging.
Some therapists prefer to call these approaches 'psychoanalysis' rather than 'conversion therapy.' This method is most commonly linked to psychologists Elizabeth Moberly and Joseph Nicolosi.
Nicolosi theorized that homosexuality resulted from gender identity issues. Through his organization, the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality, he employed psychoanalysis, using harsh psychological techniques in an attempt to replace homosexual desires with heterosexual ones. His methods were deeply controversial, and he was ultimately prohibited from practicing.
4. Guided Imagery
The term 'visualization' may not sound particularly alarming. You might think it simply involves imagining oneself as heterosexual. For gay men, the idea was to show them pictures of alluring women in revealing clothing, hoping that they would eventually become aroused. However, much more disturbing techniques were employed. This method is still in use in certain countries today.
In 2011, MIT graduate student Samuel Brinton shared the traumatic experience of his therapy. Raised in an extremely religious and conservative household, Samuel's father reacted violently when he discovered his son's sexual orientation, even going so far as to hospitalize him. Eventually, Samuel agreed to undergo therapy after this abuse.
During his first session, the so-called therapist attempted to manipulate Sam’s mind by feeding him such nonsense: 'I want you to understand that being gay means you have AIDS, and all gay people are dead. You're the last one left, and the government is coming for you next.'
The therapist then showed Sam disturbing images of men dying from AIDS. These graphic visuals severely impacted the young boy's mental state. After the sessions, Sam tried to take his own life multiple times, though he thankfully survived. Today, he reflects on his journey, saying, 'My life is perfect, life is heaven.'
3. Dehumanizing Women
While it may seem crude, nearly every man has done it at some point: staring at an attractive woman walking by or watching explicit films. It's not just men, though; society as a whole often objectifies and sexualizes women.
Some therapists who claim to 'cure' homosexuality focus exclusively on this method. They urge their gay patients to objectify women openly, aiming to cultivate an attraction to women rather than men.
Russian psychotherapist Yan Goland openly admits to using this technique in his treatment. He shows his patients adult films and magazines, encouraging them to objectify women. Goland also expects his patients to carry this behavior beyond his clinic, telling them to go out into the world, spot an attractive woman, and leer at her.
2. The Religious Path
In numerous religious communities, being a part of the LGBT community is seen as unacceptable. Many religious individuals consider it unnatural and contrary to what God intended. As a result, devout parents may seek religious intervention when they learn that their child identifies as gay.
You might wonder, what's so shocking about this?
It’s a form of intense brainwashing. Some people hold the belief that homosexual tendencies are the result of Satan. In the most extreme instances, LGBT individuals are locked in rooms and made to pray for hours on end.
This is a common practice in Russia. Many families in Russia force their gay children to attend religious institutions where they are restrained and doused in holy water while the priest chants prayers. Afterward, they are made to drink the water, and occasionally, they are subjected to physical punishment. This combination of mental and physical abuse is meant to break them.
1. Lobotomies
Lobotomies involved cutting into the brain’s prefrontal lobe. This form of neurosurgery was used to diminish the symptoms of mental disorders. At one point in history, being LGBT was classified as a mental disorder.
While lobotomies using incisions instead of drugs have largely been abandoned, this form of medical barbarism persisted in the United States as recently as 1981.
There were also variations of the procedure, like the ice pick lobotomy, which involved drilling holes in a person's skull and using a leukotome to remove white matter from the brain. The procedure originally used an ice pick, giving it the eerie name.
