Episode 551: Justin Traasdahl, Gay, Age 34, Conversion/Reparative Therapy

My friend Justin Traasdahl (Ukraine RM, BYU Grad) joins us to bravely share his story. Justin starts with opening up at age 13 to his parents about possibly being gay which led to a long and painful road with conversion therapy that lasted around 15 years. Justin’s hope in sharing his story helps “change hearts and trajectories”.

Around age 29, Justin went to a new LDS therapist who told him “Justin, you know reparative therapy doesn’t work, right?” Justin shares questioning conversion therapy along the way —that this is who he is—but needed to hear this from a different therapist.

Justin shares the pain, trauma and betrayal of conversion/reparative therapy and his road to healing and hope. It is a remarkable story of courage. One of the reasons Justin agreed to do this podcast is to help younger queer youth and parents avoid this type of therapy which is still legal in some states.

Justin, who is no longer an active Latter-day Saint, talks about his hope for the future that includes sharing his life with his future husband. In a closing segment Justin talks to his 13-year-old self using language very different than conversion therapy. It is a beautiful segment on how I feel our Heavenly Parents see all Their children.

Thank you, Justin, for being on the podcast. Sharing your story helps us all do better, and you are “changing hearts and trajectories”. You are a great man and have a wonderful life ahead of you.

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