Collection
Mattachine Society of Washington "Love in Action" Collection
Span Dates: 1978-2013, undated
Bulk Dates:
Volume: 4.1 cubic feet
Description
This collection contains papers, publications, pamphlets, and newsclipping relating to the gay to straight (known as ex-gay), conversion therapy program, Love in Action (LIA). This collection contains the papers of John Smid, former director of the Love in Action program in Memphis, Tennessee. There are also materials from other ex-gay programs New Hope Ministries and Exodus.
Series 2 contains Garrard Conley's (author of Boy Erased) workbook and a folder of loose material from his time in the Love in Action program. Series 2 also contains the Love in Action class manual, Love in Action Steps Out Program. Series 4 and 5 contain a variety of publications, writings, and audio-visual materials from groups and programs dedicated to conversion therapy.
Hist/Bio Note
Mr. John Smid, born in Denver, Colorado, is a white, gay man, and former Executive Director of Love In Action (1990-2008), one of the largest and oldest ex-gay ministries in the world and part of ex-gay umbrella organization Exodus International. Smid grew up in Omaha in the 1950’s and 1960’s, attending Paddock Road Elementary, Arbor Heights Junior High, and Westside High School (1968-1972). After high school, Smid married and had two children with his high school girlfriend, and worked as a clerk at Union Pacific Railroad (1973-1986). Smid and his wife divorced in 1979, and he lived as an out gay man in Omaha throughout the early 1980’s.
By the late 1980’s, Smid had suffered a string of failed relationships with men and felt drawn to the teachings of Evangelical Christianity, which was introduced to him by a coworker. In 1987, Smid heard a radio advertisement by Focus on the Family promoting Exodus International’s ex-gay ministry programs, and reached out to the organization. He received a job offer from Love In Action and that year, packed up his things, quit his job, and moved his life to San Rafael, California, where he worked as a House Manager for the residential program. In 1990, Smid was promoted to Executive Director of Love In Action, a position he held until 2008. During this time, Smid developed a wealth of new material for the ministry, applying the same language and structure used by chemical dependency programs to their gay conversion therapy. In 2004, Smid created and implemented the Refuge program, which focused on gay conversion therapy for teenagers. The program was discontinued in 2007.
With growing legal issues, public backlash, and internal battles within Love In Action, Smid resigned in 2008. This began his journey of finding freedom from the ex-gay movement, starting LGBT-affirming Grace Rivers Ministry, and speaking publicly about the harm of conversion therapy. In 2017, Smid donated the materials from his time at Love In Action to the Mattachine Society of Washington, D.C., who passed them on to the National Museum of American History. Smid acted as a consultant on the 2018 movie Boy Erased, based on the memoir by conversion therapy survivor Garrard Conley. In the movie, fictional character Viktor Sykes, played by actor and director Joel Edgerton, is based on Smid.
As of March 2019, Smid lives in Paris, Texas, with his husband Larry.
Finding Aid
An online finding aid is available.
Note there is a related Oral History Interview at the University of Nebraska Omaha. https://queeromahaarchives.omeka.net/items/show/3309
https://sova.si.edu/record/nmah.ac.1428
Location
This collection is housed at the National Museum of American History.
https://www.si.edu/museums/american-history-museum
Tags
Conversion Therapy | Evangelical