Garrard Conley

American author and LGBTQ activist

Garrard Conley

Born	1984 or 1985 (age 38–39) United States
Notable works	Boy Erased: A Memoir
Website
garrardconley.com

Garrard Conley (born 1984 or 1985^[1]) is an American author and LGBTQ activist known for his autobiography Boy Erased: A Memoir, recounting his childhood as part of a fundamentalist family in Arkansas that enrolled him in conversion therapy. The book was adapted for the 2018 film, Boy Erased.^[2]

Early life and education

Conley was raised first in Cherokee Village and then later in Mountain Home, Arkansas. His father is a Southern Baptist preacher and former car salesman. Garrard "spent years struggling to reconcile his sexuality with his faith".^[1] His family had a house on Lake Thunderbird where Conley would spend time on their pontoon boat.^[3]

He attended Lyon College for a semester before returning home after being outed to his parents by a student who had raped Conley.^[4] Conley was sent to Love in Action to undergo conversion therapy—the controversial pseudoscientific practice of trying to change someone's sexual orientation from homosexual to heterosexual using psychological or spiritual interventions—in 2004.^[5] At Love in Action, he underwent treatments by John Smid, who later left the organization, disavowed conversion therapy, announced he was still gay and stated he had "never met a man who experienced a change from homosexual to heterosexual".^[6]

Career

In 2016, Conley taught English literature at the American College of Sofia in Bulgaria.^[3] He is the author of Boy Erased: A Memoir, which was based on his experiences at Love in Action.^[7] The book was later adapted into the 2018 film Boy Erased by Joel Edgerton, with Lucas Hedges playing Conley.^[8] He leveraged his newfound fame to "educate the public about the abusive practice of conversion therapy".^[1] Conley released a four-episode podcast titled UnErased: The History of Conversion Therapy in America^[9] shortly before the release of the film.^[10] In 2018, Conley led GrubStreet's Memoir Incubator program.^[11] He has continued to travel worldwide telling his story: in 2019, he presented to Southern Utah University, Equality Utah, venues in Germany and Switzerland, and gave a keynote speech for Iowa Safe Schools.^[1]

In June 2019, to mark the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots,^[12] Queerty named him one of the Pride50 "trailblazing individuals who actively ensure society remains moving towards equality, acceptance and dignity for all queer people".^[1]^[13] Conley is an assistant professor of Creative Writing at Kennesaw State University.^[14]

Personal life

Conley lives in New York City with his husband.^[11]^[15]

Works

Novels

All the World Beside (March 26, 2024), ISBN 9780525537359

Non-fiction

Boy Erased: A Memoir, or Boy Erased: A Memoir of Identity, Faith, and Family (2016), memoir, ISBN 9781594633010

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Reddish, David (May 14, 2019). "Garrard Conley fought the ex-gay movement and found the courage to forgive". www.queerty.com. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
^ Galicia, Libni. "Brilliant film adaptation of Boy Erased by Joel Edgerton". The Mesa Press. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
^ ^a ^b Borland, Bryan (May 19, 2016). "A Q&A with Garrard Conley, author of Boy Erased". Arkansas Times. Retrieved December 17, 2018.
^ "Gay Conversion Therapy Made Me Suicidal: The Powerful True Story Behind the Film 'Boy Erased'". People. Retrieved December 17, 2018.
^ Brantley, Max (February 13, 2018). "The man behind 'Boy Erased,' an Arkansas experience coming to the screen soon". Arkansas Times. Retrieved December 17, 2018.
^ Wayne Besen (October 12, 2011). "Former 'Ex-Gay' Activist Admits Gay People Don't Change". Falls Church News-Press. Archived from the original on October 15, 2011. Retrieved October 13, 2011.
^ Hicklin, Aaron (June 10, 2018). "I was 19, gay and ready to be 'cured' by conversion therapy". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved December 17, 2018.
^ "Makers of gay-conversion film say they don't want to 'throw God under the bus'". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
^ "UnErased: The History of Conversion Therapy in America". Focus Features. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
^ Florio, Angelica. "The 'Boy Erased' Subject Is Exposing Conversion Therapy In A Brand New Way". Bustle. Retrieved December 17, 2018.
^ ^a ^b Kaufman, Hayley. "'Boy Erased' author Garrard Conley on his story's long road to the screen - The Boston Globe". Boston Globe. Retrieved December 17, 2018.
^ "Pride 2019: Stonewall 50 Anniversary and History of LGBT People in America". Newsweek. June 1, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
^ "Queerty Pride50 2019 Honorees". Queerty. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
^ "KSU | Faculty Web - Garrard Conley". facultyweb.kennesaw.edu. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
^ "Gay Conversion Therapy Made Me Suicidal: The Powerful True Story Behind the Film 'Boy Erased'". Peoplemag. Retrieved January 4, 2023.