I am very proud to be a part of this life-giving, life-saving, “Pray Away” film. The film revolves around a remarkable woman and her surviving conversion therapy. I have known Julie Rodgers throughout her journey and have a deep respect for her. Yvette, John, Michael, and I share insights as former ex-gay leaders into the how, why, and what empowered the ex-gay/conversion therapy movement. We also speak to the trauma conversion therapy/ex-gay cults inflicted on ourselves, and through the advocacy/teachings, we were once so passionate about and now denounce.
“Pray Away” also exposes how this toxic system of belief and trauma has morphed into new organizations and leaders. It also follows the story of Jeffery, who is one of the newer figureheads of the ex-gay/conversion therapy movement. From what has been shared with me over the course of the past three years, I can tell all of this has been expertly interwoven into the film.
I may catch some significant heat for some of the things I reveal. Some of it, about my past, is deserved. Regardless, I will always seek to take personal responsibility and make amends where it is clear that I should.
In the end, though, my experience isn’t what is important. What is important is that “Pray Away” will help prevent people from ever entering that world to begin with. This film will help thousands of people leave that world and convince church and ex-gay leadership to shutter those programs to stop the trauma. This film will help make the ex-gay/conversion therapy a thing of the past. We have a lot of work to do to make sure that happens and save lives.
Early Reviews of Pray Away:
‘Pray Away’: Kristine Stolakis’ Doc Is One Of The Most Important Films Of The Year [Tribeca Review]
https://www.queerty.com/kristine-stolakis-cracks-secrets-ex-gay-movement-pray-away-20200426
Tribeca 2020 Preview: Hurricane Maria, Hereditary Trauma, and More
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/pray-away-review-tribeca-2020-1290312
To get updates on the films promotion and eventual distribution, please sign up at https://www.multitudefilms.com/pray-away
#PrayAwayFilm
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