Most of this footage was recorded in 1970 & 1971. Homosexual aversion therapy, historically referred to as conversion therapy or reparative therapy, was a set of practices used in an attempt to change an individual's sexual orientation from homosexual or bisexual to heterosexual.
The methods used in aversion therapy often included negative conditioning techniques. Patients were shown images of homosexual acts followed by the administration of electric shocks. Patients were given drugs that caused nausea while being exposed to homoerotic stimuli, with the aim of associating those stimuli with unpleasant sensations.
The consensus among health and psychological professionals is that aversion therapy was not only unsuccessful in changing an individual's sexual orientation but also harmful. Major psychological and medical organizations, including the American Psychological Association and the World Health Organization, have condemned these practices. Studies and reports have documented the significant mental health issues resulting from such therapies, including anxiety, depression, and suicidal behavior.
As a result of these issues, many countries and regions banned conversion therapy practices, especially for minors. These bans are supported by evidence highlighting the ineffectiveness of the therapy and its potential for causing long-term psychological damage.
Don Kilhefner, one of the speakers in this film, was an influential figure in the LGBTQ+ rights movement, particularly known for his activism and community organizing work. He co-founded several important organizations and initiatives that have played pivotal roles in advocating for and supporting LGBTQ+ individuals.
Kilhefner was a co-founder of the Los Angeles chapter of the Gay Liberation Front, one of the earliest gay rights organizations. The GLF was instrumental in the early stages of the gay rights movement, emphasizing a radical approach to gay liberation.
Kilhefner's work focused on the intersection of personal identity and community support, advocating for self-acceptance among LGBTQ+ individuals while fostering a sense of community through shared experiences. His efforts significantly contributed to the advancement of gay rights, the improvement of health and social services for LGBTQ+ people, and the promotion of a deeper understanding of LGBTQ+ issues.
Virginia Hoeffding, also in this film, was a significant figure in the early gay rights movement. She co-founded the Gay Women's Service Center (GWSC) in 1971. The GWSC holds the distinction of being the first organization in the U.S. incorporated as a social service agency exclusively for lesbians. It was also notable for having the first telephone listing in Los Angeles to ever contain the word "gay."
Ellen Broidy, also in this film, was an important figure in the history of gay rights activism best known for her role in organizing the first LGBTQ+ Pride march. Ellen Broidy's work helped set the stage for the subsequent decades of activism and the ongoing fight for LGBTQ+ rights. Her contributions organizing the first Pride march have had a lasting impact on LGBTQ+ community visibility and advocacy.
Jon Platania, a speaker in the film, entered gay liberation in the early 1970s when he joined the Los Angeles Gay Liberation Front, the pioneering gay activist group founded after the 1969 Stonewall Rebellion. He was instrumental in organizing and managing the Gay Liberation Front’s “Liberation Houses.”
He was entrapped by an undercover police officer and was charged with lewd and dissolute conduct. Instead of pleading guilty and paying $150, Jon plead not guilty even though a conviction would have made him a sex offender for the rest of his life.
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He said “I was so naive. I didn't fully grasp the gravity of what I was doing. I just knew I had to defend myself. So I went to the legal law bookstore and I got a copy of the California criminal code. I was a systems analyst and a city planner, and I thought, well I can do this. I read everything I could. I subpoenaed every member of the police commission including the head of the vice squad & the chief of police. I had them all by their own cajones and they couldn't go anywhere unless they could squash their subpoenas because they had to be in town if I wanted to call them to court, which I did.
Judge Nebron was helpful to me. The judge asked me why I was doing this and I said 'Your Honor, if you really don't understand why, that's the problem. I'm not fighting for just my life. This happens 10,000 times every year, at least, in this park. That's how many lives are ruined just in this park.’ I then asked the arresting Officer Breem and said, 'Tell me, did you voluntarily enter this work with the police department? How does your wife feel about you hanging out in these different men's rooms, picking up faggots?' He wanted to kill me so bad. I walked out a famous fagot but I won my case.”