JONAH's "Ex-Gay" Psychological Striptease

Ben Unger and Chaim Levin grew up in Orthodox Jewish homes in Brooklyn. They lived in traditional, socially conservative homes and tried to live up to the expectations of their faith and families.

They were gay, however, and were told they had to choose between being gay and Jewish - as if this were truly possible.

In a desperate search for "help", Ben and Chaim found the "ex-gay" organization Jews Offering New Alternatives to Homosexuality (JONAH). This was the discredited organization founded by Wall Street con artist Arthur Abba Goldberg, who went to prison for massive bond fraud.

Goldberg promised to "cure" both men of their homosexuality and make them straight. He recommended that Ben and Chaim have therapy sessions with Alan Downing, a "life coach" who often conducted his practice out of JONAH's headquarters. Downing is also a senior trainer for the controversial "ex-gay" outdoor retreat, Journey Into Manhood, which is run by the organization, People Can Change.

While Ben and Chaim were in "therapy", Downing admitted that he was still attracted to men. In time, the sessions devolved into a "psychological striptease", where the men were asked to strip completely named and touch themselves.

Both Ben and Chaim say they were harmed by the therapy and consider Downing's actions highly unprofessional, unethical and inappropriate.

Unfortunately, groups like JONAH and People Can Change often place vulnerable people in the hands of unqualified, unhealthy "life coaches" and counselors who are struggling to accept their own repressed sexual orientation. This creates disastrous situations where unhealthy, predatory behavior can occur.

Fortunately, Ben and Chaim have come to accept themselves and now live as out, proud openly gay men. They warn Jewish LGBT youth to avoid fraudulent scams like JONAH and accept themselves.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Jews
• Offering
• New
• Alternatives
• to
• Homosexuality
• Rich
• Wyler
• Arthur
• Abba
• Goldberg
• consumer
• faud
• con

[jeffreydunivant66]

Ben is hot!

[pageboythehumanist]

My heart goes out to these guys.

[emilyxdaniels]

These guys are so brave. It is hard to talk about sexual abuse like this.

[skewlboypin]

I'm just curious if either of these guys remained observant after thier experiences. Obeservance is very important to my sig-o and myself as a couple.

[brotherdarek]

re-PERV-ative therapy...yeah, that's what I was thinking too.

[racooneh]

......What...... the fuck........

[DerekWilliamsMusic]

This is the Jewish equivalent of the Christian based Exodus organisation. A bunch of reprehensible, pseudo-scientific, sexually exploitative mountebanks who cause nothing but unspeakable harm.

[LaFenice1981]

This is as rediculous as these ex-gay projects get!

[breakingthisdown]

So brave. <3

[maajoour]

There are organizations that license these counselors. I hope that somone filed a exploitation complaint against that therapist.

[silentfades]

they should bring a lawsuit against this guy

[NPJoey13]

I know Ben personally, he told me his story and my heart goes out to him, Chaim, too, for both of these men to tell their stories was a huge step for them, Ben said to me once that its better to do something then sit around, so he took a step and challenged it, now they both are successful business men and happy with their own lives.

No person should live in fear for who they are, be it gay, straight, bisexual, or transgendered, what people need to learn is just that we're people we're human!