Former leader of 'gay cure' group marries same-sex partner
Man who used to tell people to 'pray away the gay' admits his 'true feelings' and weds his male partner
![gay marriage](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/d2rgeWwwufPaRAqHQ4sDUU-415-80.jpg)
The former leader of a Christian ministry that promised to cure people "trapped in homosexuality" has revealed that he has married his gay partner.
John Smid led the controversial Love in Action organisation in the US until 2008, when he left after admitting that he had denied his own sexuality for years.
Smid and his partner Larry McQueen live in Texas but were forced to travel to Oklahoma to get married as their state maintains the same-sex marriage ban that Smid once supported.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"I believe that due to my former notoriety, my marriage will definitely have its impact," he said, according to Pink News.
"We think our relationship reveals something very normal, not strange or deceptive gay stereotypes."
Love in Action called homosexuality a "sin" and encouraged its followers to "pray away the gay". It came under intense scrutiny after a documentary revealed that it was running camps for teenagers in order to "change their sexuality" at the request of their parents.
In 1994, Smid admits telling a young man that it would be better for him to commit suicide, rather than act on his homosexual feelings.
He has since apologised for his role in the organisation and admits making serious "mistakes, shortcoming and failures" throughout his leadership.
"I am very sorry for the ways [we] further wounded teens that were already in a very delicate place in life," he said.
He now runs a Christian fellowship group called Grace Rivers for "those who call themselves gay and want to seek a relationship with God in a place where they're free to do that."
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
The Tamils stranded on 'secretive' British island in Indian Ocean
Under the Radar Migrants 'unlawfully detained' since 2021 shipwreck on UK-controlled Diego Garcia, site of important US military base
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Britain's Labour Party wins in a landslide
Speed Read The Conservatives were unseated after 14 years of rule
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Will voter apathy and low turnout blight the election?
Today's Big Question Belief that result is 'foregone conclusion', or that politicians can't be trusted, could exacerbate long-term turnout decline
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
How has same-sex marriage changed America?
Today's Big Question More acceptance, but new fears and fights
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Will Aukus pact survive a second Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question US, UK and Australia seek to expand 'game-changer' defence partnership ahead of Republican's possible return to White House
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
It's the economy, Sunak: has 'Rishession' halted Tory fightback?
Today's Big Question PM's pledge to deliver economic growth is 'in tatters' as stagnation and falling living standards threaten Tory election wipeout
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Why your local council may be going bust
The Explainer Across England, local councils are suffering from grave financial problems
By The Week UK Published