Garrard Conley

Garrard Conley (c. 1984/1985)[1] is an American author and LGBTQ activist known for his autobiography Boy Erased: A Memoir, recounting his childhood as part of a fundamentalist family in Arkansas that enrolled him in conversion therapy. The book was adapted for the 2018 film, Boy Erased.

Garrard Conley
Bornc. 1984/1985 (age 35–36)
Home townCherokee Village, Arkansas, U.S.
Notable worksBoy Erased: A Memoir
Website
garrardconley.com

Early life and education

Garrard Conley was raised first in Cherokee Village and then later in Mountain Home, Arkansas. His father is a Southern Baptist preacher and former car salesman. Garrard "spent years struggling to reconcile his sexuality with his faith".[1] His family had a house on Lake Thunderbird where Conley would spend time on their pontoon boat.[2]

He attended Lyon College for a semester before returning home after being outed to his parents by a student who had raped Conley.[3] Conley was sent to Love In Action to undergo conversion therapy—the controversial pseudoscientific practice of trying to change someone's sexual orientation from homosexual to heterosexual using psychological or spiritual interventions—in 2004.[4] At Love in Action, he underwent treatments by John Smid, who later left the organization, disavowed conversion therapy, announced he was still gay and stated he had "never met a man who experienced a change from homosexual to heterosexual."[5]

Career

In 2016, Conley taught English literature at the American College of Sofia.[2] He is the author of Boy Erased: A Memoir, which was based on his experiences at Love in Action.[6] The book was later adapted into the 2018 film Boy Erased by Joel Edgerton, with Lucas Hedges playing Conley. He leveraged his newfound fame to "educate the public about the abusive practice of conversion therapy".[1] Conley released a four-episode podcast titled UnErased: The History of Conversion Therapy in America shortly before the release of the film.[7] In 2018, Conley led GrubStreet's Memoir Incubator program.[8] He has continued to travel worldwide telling his story: in 2019, he presented to Southern Utah University, Equality Utah, venues in Germany and Switzerland, and gave a keynote speech for Iowa Safe Schools.[1]

In June 2019, to mark the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, an event widely considered a watershed moment in the modern LGBTQ rights movement, Queerty named him one of the Pride50 "trailblazing individuals who actively ensure society remains moving towards equality, acceptance and dignity for all queer people".[1][9]

Personal life

Conley resides in New York City with his husband.[8]

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References
  1. Reddish, David (2019-05-14). "Garrard Conley fought the ex-gay movement and found the courage to forgive". www.queerty.com. Retrieved 2019-06-18.
  2. Borland, Bryan (May 19, 2016). "A Q&A with Garrard Conley, author of Boy Erased". Arkansas Times. Retrieved 2018-12-17.
  3. "Gay Conversion Therapy Made Me Suicidal: The Powerful True Story Behind the Film 'Boy Erased'". People. Retrieved 2018-12-17.
  4. Brantley, Max (February 13, 2018). "The man behind 'Boy Erased,' an Arkansas experience coming to the screen soon". Arkansas Times. Retrieved December 17, 2018.
  5. Wayne Besen (2011-10-12). "Former 'Ex-Gay' Activist Admits Gay People Don't Change". Falls Church News-Press. Archived from the original on 2011-10-15. Retrieved 2011-10-13.
  6. Hicklin, Aaron (2018-06-10). "I was 19, gay and ready to be 'cured' by conversion therapy". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2018-12-17.
  7. Florio, Angelica. "The 'Boy Erased' Subject Is Exposing Conversion Therapy In A Brand New Way". Bustle. Retrieved 2018-12-17.
  8. Kaufman, Hayley. "'Boy Erased' author Garrard Conley on his story's long road to the screen - The Boston Globe". Boston Globe. Retrieved 2018-12-17.
  9. "Queerty Pride50 2019 Honorees". Queerty. Retrieved 2019-06-18.
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