Straight and Narrow
Chris and E.J. (fellow Memphis bloggers) have posted about Zach, a 16 year-old local boy whose parents have sent him to a place called the Refuge. It’s one of those places where they try to cure you of your homosexuality. I read much of his blog, and it sounds like he’s going through absolute hell.
If you want to send Zach a message (and I hope you will… something supportive and hopeful and normalizing), send it to zach.inbartlett@gmail.com. (I promise this e-mail address is legit, because I created it for him myself. I did it so people not on MySpace can write to him.)
Please take a minute to write to Zach. He needs a little hope. Seriously. These places are so messed up. He’s got about 2 weeks when he won’t have any access to Internet, but once he’s out, I’d like him to come home to a nice full inbox of well wishes.
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Update: There’s a protest going on, if you want to take a stand in person. From EJ: People who are planning to visit from outside Memphis, please send an email to fighting.homophobia@gmail.com to contact the organizers.
Comment by Dianne
June 6, 2005 @ 9:49 am
Here’s what I wrote. Hope it helps at least a little.
Hi from Philly, PA!
I heard from the Memphis bloggers and wanted to give you a ‘yo’ from up here. All I can tell you is to hang in there Zach. We went through a similar situation way back in the late 70s with my younger brother. Things didn’t get really hairy or anything, but I can report that my brother is doing fine and living in Florida. In the long run, you are going to live your life the way you want to live it. Right now because you aren’t of legal age, your parents are telling you what to do. I’m a parent too. My son is 18 and is going to live at home for a few more years, and he respects the way we live and we respect him. Everyone is unique. Get through this summer and keep thinking about the future, you’ll be fine. Listen to music, write a journal, do things that will keep your mind active. Believe me, time flies.
I’ll be thinking about you.
Dianne C.