As a young, gay teen, Mr. Kendall was sent by his parents to a so-called conversion therapist in a desperate attempt to somehow “fix” him. The practice of conversion therapy, combined with familial rejection, virtually destroyed his sense of place in the world. At the age of 16, Mr. Kendall surrendered himself to the Colorado Department of Human Services and sought to have his parents’ custody of him revoked. What followed were dark years filled with depression, drug abuse, thoughts of suicide, and periods of homelessness. In 2010, Ryan told his story in the district trial of Hollingsworth v. Perry, to show to the world that sexual orientation is an immutable trait and to illustrate the fact LGBT people have been subjected to an ugly history of discrimination and abuse, often from members of their own families. Today Mr. Kendall studies political science at Columbia University and continues his work to ensure that no child is subjected to the discredited and dangerous practice of conversion therapy.
Ryan Kendall is the author of Prop. 8: Advancing Civil Rights Through Cultural and Constitutional Change.
N.Y.U. Review of Law and Social Change 