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MLK’s Advice to a Boy Struggling With Unwanted Same-Sex Attractions in 1958
As the nation remembers the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. today, few may know that, as a minister, he worked to help at least one young man who was experiencing unwanted same-sex attractions in 1958.
Today, as issues like these are debated by those who want to end certain types of therapies for minors, therapy equality advocate Christopher Doyle wonders if anyone nearly 60 years ago would have called Dr. King a “bigot,” “hateful” or “intolerant” for his words to the young man.
“No one would have attacked Dr. King for his words of guidance in 1958,” said Doyle. “They would have lauded him as a thoughtful minister who was sincerely trying to help this young man who was struggling and had nowhere to turn. But our society has become so fearful, so resistant and so intolerant of any view that does not match the vocal agenda of activists, those offering guidance—as well as those asking for help—are made out to be the enemy.”
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| In a recent Charisma News story, an exchange between Dr. King and a young man is described, where King gives advice while writing an advice column for Ebony Magazine. The boy’s question and Dr. King’s answer are below:
Question: My problem is different from the ones most people have. I am a boy, but I feel about boys the way I ought to feel about girls. I don’t want my parents to know about me. What can I do? Is there any place where I can go for help?
Answer: Your problem is not at all an uncommon one. However, it does require careful attention. The type of feeling that you have toward boys is probably not an innate tendency, but something that has been culturally acquired. Your reasons for adopting this habit have now been consciously suppressed or unconsciously repressed. Therefore, it is necessary to deal with this problem by getting back to some of the experiences and circumstances that led to the habit. In order to do this I would suggest that you see a good psychiatrist who can assist you in bringing to the forefront of conscience all of those experiences and circumstances that led to the habit. You are already on the right road toward a solution, since you honestly recognize the problem and have a desire to solve it.
“Note that Dr. King encouraged the boy see a psychiatrist to find the root cause of his feelings,” Doyle said. “Today, in five states, the District of Columbia and several other cities, this boy would have been unable to find help. That’s why it’s so important that we put an end to therapy bans that prevent minors from having their therapy rights stripped away.”
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| Help Us Keep #TherapyEquality Alive in 2017!
We need your help in 2017 more than ever before. Five states, the District of Columbia, and several cities have now banned therapies for clients struggling with sexual and gender identity conflicts. Please stand with us as we work to influence legislators on the state and national level to protect therapy rights!
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| About Equality and Justice For All
Equality And Justice For All is the only civil rights organization that works to further the general welfare of the ex-gay community by promoting fair and equitable laws and policies protecting their rights. By furthering individual self-determination and liberty for former homosexuals, the organization strives to reduce bigoted representations of the ex-gay sexual orientation status, ensuring that ex-gays and their friends and families can be open, honest, safe and respected in a diverse society. For more information, visit: www.EqualityAndJusticeForAll.org |
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