Zach is back?

[Meldread]

Zach posted on his blog here: http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=7428306&blogID=39349496

Here is a few select snippets of what he had to say:
"Love In Action has been misrepresented and what I have posted in my blogs has been taken out of perspective and context."

"I refuse to deal with people who are only focused on their one-sided (biased) agendas."

"Homosexuality is still a factor in my life<...>"

I am not sure what to think. I kinda thought his responce would be something like this, but I am concerned that it may be a brainwashed responce.

Thoughts?

[dsc]

1. who knows?

Presumedly he could be sent back there at anytime if he says or does the wrong thing in his parents' eyes. Given that it is hard to tell if that is what he really is feeling or not.

[SlipperySlope]

2. Maybe they cured him?

More seriously, maybe he doesn't want to be anybody's symbol. He probably, like a lot of teens, just wants to live his life?

[Democrats_win]

3. Zach was confronted by parents & adults for weeks. Not surprised.

Check out the comments under his letter and more of Zach's responses.

[SeanQuinn]

4. That's sad.

He shouldn't have become a media frenzy. That's not what anyone wants. Hopefully he is living his life normally again. God bless him if he is. The 'Christians' claiming to "un-gay" someone shouldn't be bearing Christ's name.

[Maat]

5. Thanks for the post.

I've was just thinking about him.

So, what you have quoted sounds rather disturbing.

I think he needs to speak with Peterson Toscano, who has been through this experience.

http://www.homonomo.com/index.html

[Maat]

6. Wow ... I am concerned about his comments down below.

He's spouting the propaganda about 'homosexuality running your life,' or whatever.

I research the religious right for my DFA committee (separation of church and state); that's right off the page.

Well, he does not appear to be suicidal - at least judging by the comments; that's a good sign.

He'll live through this, and, hopefully, one day appreciate himself for just who he is.

[Solar]

7. Im having difficultly believing this

Bear with me for a second, but do you think thats actually him talking? I doubt this would happen but what if he accidently left his account logged in on his computer and his parents took advantage of it? I'm certain they know about it because thats how the story got out in the first place.

[Meldread]

8. Not sure.

I don't know. It obviously does seem written in a different style than he wrote in before, however that could be due to the fact that he knows thousands will be reading what he is saying. (Compared to before where he only thought his friends were going to read it.)

What I am concerned about is his psychological state after being in that place for as long as he was. Personally, if I had any power in the State of TN I would have had him taken from that place, his parents rights revoked to raise children and any other children they had in their care taken away. Following that I would have had Love In Action (which would be more aptly named: Hate In Action) shut down, and arrests being made for child abuse.

I mean, let us not forget that the guy running the place flat out said that he'd rather see kids commit suicide than leave gay. Add to that the fact that it seems they had no suicide prevention people there, and the fact that gay teens more than any other demographic are more likely to commit suicide... it goes beyond irresponsible and playing with fire -- it goes right into abuse and borderlines on torture and/or encouraged suicide.

When I read what the kid is writing it borderlines on indoctrinated propaganda. We know the whole purpose of the place was to brainwash him, and I guess it shouldn't come as a shock or a surprise that he is coming out looking like this. I suppose we should just be thankful that he isn't openly hostile, and proclaiming that he is "cured".

[ropi]

11. i am glad you wrote that...

Granted there are some teenagers out there who do write extremely well, but I used to teach at the college level, and I have not seen anyone who is that young write with such decent grammar and vocabulary. I mean come on... he uses the dash or hash mark and uses it correctly. I've seen few college graduates who know how to use it (let alone a semi-colon) correctly. If you compare his page to links from his page of others who are relatively the same age as Zach, you can see a big difference in syntax and style. Furthermore, he appears to be very well versed in glbt issues for one so young. Yes, I know the web is available with information for all, but it strikes me as odd when I have met 20 year olds who are really net savvy and who are gay, lesbian, or bisexual, and still are not as up-to-date on so many gay issues.

Look at his primary information page. His usage and style is a bit different. And, he does give his H/S information. Where were the interviews with teachers or someone who may have known him? Something is not right.

[Q3JR4]

9. There may be an issue of

brainwashing involved, but I think there's something more to it. He is 16 years old and until he reaches adulthood, his father has basically said that he'll do whatever he needs to to "help" his son.

If it were me, I'd hang around till then feeding them the lies I learned at "camp" and when the time comes I'd get the hell out of dodge.

Even if he HAS been brainwashed, that isn't going to last forever. Eventually he'll meet a guy that he won't be able to get out of his head, get together with him, and he'll feel how right it is.

In any event, we'd be back to paragraph two of this post.

[undergroundpanther]

10. Why do we tolerate this?

Why is fundamentalism permitted to abuse people because of that faith. Sadly in"free" america kids are still property and have no rights. No wonder America can't shake off the many yokes and beliefs that keep the yokes on us.We are born slaves.

[Meldread]

12. Something interesting.

I happened to be spending time with my Mother today and we ended up watching an episode of Dr. Phil. The topic was based around two young girls who had recently escaped from a religious cult. Everyone was basically condemning the cult and it sounded almost exactly like Zach's case. How they were treated, taught to live, the methods of brainwashing, all of it was almost a dead-on comparison.

People will condemn them, but won't condemn LIA... why exactly? Because they won't take the kids off into the woods and dress funny?

[Solar]

14. Theres also another possibility

You're right, his parents have obviously put him under a great deal of scrutiny. His only real option now is to just pretend everything worked to avoid getting shipped right back there. Until he reaches 18, his parents are holding all the cards. If he is lying to avoid more brainwashing, MySpace is the LAST place in hell hes going to admit it.

[Ian David]

13. The secret is that they put one of these under his bed