Reparative sexual orientation therapy effects on gay sexual identities

Abstract

The study explored gay males’ identities and experiences with sexual reparative therapy. The sample consisted of five white Christian males (age range 24 – 41 years), who responded to a semi-structured interview on their self-identity with reparative therapy. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used for the thematic analysis. Findings indicated that the gay males identified with their homosexual sexual orientation despite counselling for an alternative heterosexual identity. Their identities were associated with early childhood social development, and the formation of concepts of heterosexual self – identities in a patriarchal society, which did not match their sexual identity as homosexual.