1900 Shortly before the turn of the 20th century, physician Denslow Lewis publishes that he believes women brought up in wealthy families could develop “sexual hyperesthesi” (excessive sensitivity to stimuli) and become lesbians. In order to cure these women, the doctor prescribes cocaine solutions and surgical removal of “adherent clitorises.”
1957 In the mid-20th century, researcher Gunther Dorner of the Institute of Experimental Endocrinology hypothesizes that altering hormonal imbalances in the womb could prevent homosexuality before it developed.
1962 Dr. Irving Bieber’s study, “Homosexuality: A Psychoanalytic Study of Male Homosexuals” is published and is still often used by anti-gay “reparative therapists.” According to Truth Wins Out, of Bieber’s study sample of 106 homosexuals used to represent all gay people, 28 of 106 were schizophrenic, 31 were neurotic and 42 had character disorders.
1973 Modern research that relies on science, not stereotypes, leads to the American Psychiatric Association voting to remove homosexuality as an illness from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual. Suddenly, gay people were no longer considered mentally ill. All major medical and mental health associations soon followed the APA’s lead and declassified homosexuality as a disorder.
1973 Love in Action, a predecessor to Exodus International, is formed.
1976 Exodus International is formed and becomes the world’s largest “Ex-Gay” therapy organization.
2006 Wanye Benson forms Truth Wins Out, an organization devoted to debunking the claims that individuals can “change” their sexual orientation from gay to straight. Benson is a former investigative journalist who has photographed notable ex-gay therapists in compromising same-sex situations, such as leaving gay bars.
2009 Manifested Glory Ministries makes headlines when a 20-minute YouTube video shows a 16-year-old being subjected to an exorcism to “cure” him of his homosexuality. Church members chant “Come on, you homosexual demon. You homosexual spirit, we call you out right now!”
2010 John Smid, leader of Love in Action, resigns his post. Two years later he apologizes to the LGBT community for pushing the therapy.
2011 A Chinese psychiatrist gives a government-sponsored training session on conversion therapy and suggested “cures” for homosexuality include cold showers, prayer and abstinence.
2012 An undercover journalist reveals that the medical clinic of Marcus Bachmann, husband of former Republican presidential candidate Michelle Bachmann, practiced reparative therapy with him in 2011.
2012 California becomes the first state to outlaw ex-gay therapy practices on people under the age of 18. New Jersey becomes the second state to do so in 2013.
2013 Exodus International closes its doors one year after announcing that the concept of reparative therapy does not work. Executive Director Alan Chambers issues a public apology to the LGBT community and appears on national television to apologize for his role in the practice.
