Chaim Levin on undergoing 'ex-gay' therapy: it wasn't kosher
Thu. November 29, 2012 12:41 PM by OnTopMag.com
chaim levin
photo credit // thinkprogress.org
New York, NY -
Chaim Levin, one of the four men in a lawsuit which claims "ex-gay" therapy violates New Jersey's Consumer Fraud Act, has described the therapy as not kosher.
The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) filed the first-of-its-kind lawsuit on behalf of the men who say Jews Offering New Alternatives for Healing (JONAH) fraudulently claimed to provide services that "convert" people from gay to straight. JONAH founder Arthur Goldberg, a former attorney who was disbarred, and counselor Alan Downing are named in the suit.
Appearing on cabler Current's Say Anything! Levin told host Joy Behar that discussing the details of the therapy was important because "they've been operating in the shadows, in secrecy."
According to the lawsuit, Levin was sent to JONAH by his parents at age 16 after he disclosed to them that he was gay. He attended weekly sessions conducted by Downing for 18 months.
Levin said on the show that during one session, Downing instructed him to undress in front of a mirror, which the therapist explained represented "stripping negative layers that I feel about my masculinity."
"Alan Downing in particular is always very touchy-feely, especially with the younger guys. Looking back and reflecting on it, it wasn't kosher," he said.
The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) filed the first-of-its-kind lawsuit on behalf of the men who say Jews Offering New Alternatives for Healing (JONAH) fraudulently claimed to provide services that "convert" people from gay to straight. JONAH founder Arthur Goldberg, a former attorney who was disbarred, and counselor Alan Downing are named in the suit.
Appearing on cabler Current's Say Anything! Levin told host Joy Behar that discussing the details of the therapy was important because "they've been operating in the shadows, in secrecy."
According to the lawsuit, Levin was sent to JONAH by his parents at age 16 after he disclosed to them that he was gay. He attended weekly sessions conducted by Downing for 18 months.
Levin said on the show that during one session, Downing instructed him to undress in front of a mirror, which the therapist explained represented "stripping negative layers that I feel about my masculinity."
"Alan Downing in particular is always very touchy-feely, especially with the younger guys. Looking back and reflecting on it, it wasn't kosher," he said.
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