Archives Center, National Museum of American History
The Mattachine Society of Washington "Love in Action" Collection
Mattachine Society of Washington
NMAH.AC.1428
Archival Resource Key
4.1 (13 boxes) Cubic feet
1978-2013, undated
Papers and publications collected by the Mattachine Society of Washington, DC relating to the gay to straight conversion therapy program known as Love in Action (LIA) and director of the Memphis, Tennessee LIA, John J. Smid and author Garrard Conley.
English
.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged into five series.
Series 1: Smid, John J., 1983-2009, undated
Series 2: Love in Action, 1978-2013, undated
Series 3: New Hope and Exodus International Ministries, 1987-2001, undated
Series 4: Publications, 1983-2011, undated
Series 5: Audio-Visual,1988-2005, undated
Scope and Contents
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.
Preferred Citation
The Mattachine Society of Washington "Love in Action" Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Conditions Governing Use
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The collection was donated by The Mattachine Society of Washington, 2017.
Processing Information
Processed by Katarina Walthers, intern, 2018. Supervised by Franklin A. Robinson, Jr., archives specialist.
Biographical / Historical
Love in Action was founded in 1973 in San Rafael, California. Their motto was, "Finding freedom in Jesus Christ from sexual and relational sin." The first two paragraphs of this history are taken directly from their archived website,
"Love in Action International (LIA) was founded by Frank Worthen in 1973. At age 43 Frank rededicated his life to Jesus after 20 years of pursuing homosexual behavior. With his testimony and a newspaper ad, Frank proclaimed a seldom-heard message: "There is a way out of homosexuality, and his name is Jesus Christ!"
"Love in Action is the oldest established member ministry of Exodus International, a nationwide referral network. We are a referral ministry of Focus on the Family and the American Family Association. Known around the world for our residential discipleship programs, we have had clients from all over the US and more than a dozen countries. In 1994 LIA moved from its original home of San Rafael, California to Memphis, Tennessee. Memphis has been a hospitable home, and its many vibrant churches play a crucial role in the ministry. In 2001 LIA started a groundbreaking residential discipleship program. Since then, hundreds of men and women have found freedom and significance in Christ through this uniquely powerful experience. We are privileged to be involved in serving the people of God by partnering with them in their journey out of bondage and into the freedom and power of obedience to Jesus Christ."
After the settlement of a lawsuit between LIA and the State of Tennessee and the departure and recanting of the program by director John Smid, Love in Action was repackaged into Restoration Path in 2012. Restoration Path is headed by David Jones and continues to exist in Tennessee.
Garrard Conley, the author of
Boy Erased, is a survivor of the conversion therapy program that was based in Memphis and headed by John Smid. Boy Erased recounts Conley's experiences in the program. The book is the basis for the motion picture of the same name.
Website accessed 2018 July 10: https://web.archive.org/web/20110803195310//http://www.loveinaction.org/aboutus
Founded in 1961 by Franklin Kameny and Jack Nichols, the Mattachine Society of Washington, DC was the first gay civil rights organization in Washington, DC. The Society has actively worked to seek out and archive papers and collections directly related to LGBT history.
Custodial History
Donated to the Archives Center in 2017 by the Mattachine Society of Washington, DC. Portions of the collection had previously been donated to the Mattachine Society by Garrard Conley and John J. Smid.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research. Do not use original materials when available on reference video or audio tapes.
Homosexuality
Lesbian and gay experience
Sexual orientation
Manuals
Psychology
Mental health
Gays
Bisexuality
Health
Pamphlets
Newsclippings
Newsletters
LGBT
Smid, John J. Papers
Series 1
Archival Resource Key
1983-2009, undated
Scope and Contents
John J. Smid joined Love in Action (LIA) eventually moved into the leadership of the organization. He is the former director of the Memphis, Tennessee program of LIA. He recanted and departed the organization in 2008. He and his husband, Larry McQueen, were married in November 2014. In 2012 he published his memoirs,
Ex'd Out: How I Fired the Shame Committee.
Biblical Perspectives on Homosexuality
Archival Resource Key
1983
3
1
Engaging Your Emotions
Archival Resource Key
1987
3
2
What Can Lead to Homosexuality
Archival Resource Key
1989
3
3
Five Love Languages, orginials
Archival Resource Key
1995
3
4
Church's Response
Archival Resource Key
2009
3
5
Five Love Languages, test and copies
Archival Resource Key
undated
3
6
Boundaries
Archival Resource Key
undated
3
7
Deliverance: The Instant Cure
Archival Resource Key
undated
3
8
Disciple the Nations
Archival Resource Key
undated
3
9
Homosexuality: Is It Right or Wrong; Do I Have to Take a Stand?
Archival Resource Key
undated
3
10
Ten Things God Cannot Do
Archival Resource Key
undated
3
11
Confronting in Love
Archival Resource Key
undated
3
12
Smid, news clippings
Archival Resource Key
1990
3
13
Smid, news clippings
Archival Resource Key
1990
12
4
Smid, news clippings
Archival Resource Key
1991
3
14
Smid, news clippings
Archival Resource Key
1991
12
5
Smid, news clippings
Archival Resource Key
1992
3
15
Smid, news clippings
Archival Resource Key
1992
12
6
Smid, news clippings
Archival Resource Key
1993
3
16
Smid, news clippings
Archival Resource Key
1994
3
17
Smid, news clippings: The Forum
Archival Resource Key
1994
3
18
Smid, news clippings
Archival Resource Key
1994
12
7
Smid, news clippings
Archival Resource Key
1995
3
19
Papers
Archival Resource Key
undated
3
20
Love in Action (LIA)
Series 2
Archival Resource Key
1978-2013, undated
Love in Action, newsletters, articles, other resources
Archival Resource Key
1978-2006
1
1
Speaking outline: God's Intensely Personal Love
Archival Resource Key
1988-1998
1
2
Women Only
Archival Resource Key
1992
1
3
Teaching aids
Archival Resource Key
1998
1
4
Genogram format
Archival Resource Key
2000
1
5
The Source Program, applicaton
Archival Resource Key
2001
1
6
Love in Action, fundraising
Archival Resource Key
2004-2005
1
7
Honesty: Is It Really the Best Policy
Archival Resource Key
2005
1
8
Feeling Words, handout
Archival Resource Key
undated
1
9
Cartoons for copying
Archival Resource Key
undated
1
10
Feelings: Tangled Ball of Emotions
Archival Resource Key
undated
1
11
Before Confronting One Another
Archival Resource Key
undated
1
12
Caught off Guard
Archival Resource Key
undated
1
13
The Life Development Process
Archival Resource Key
undated
1
14
Do You Really See Jesus
Archival Resource Key
undated
1
15
Sex Roles, Sexual Deviations, Survey of Sexual Knowledge
Archival Resource Key
undated
1
16
Teachings, moral inventory, introduction template
Archival Resource Key
undated
1
17
Program study manual
Archival Resource Key
undated
1
18
Radical Living information book
Archival Resource Key
undated
1
19
Radical Living: Our Role, Game Plan, about Nathan Bell, Overview
Archival Resource Key
undated
1
20
Radical Living, program binder
Archival Resource Key
undated
1
21
The Source Residential Program
Archival Resource Key
undated
1
22
The Source Residential Program
Unnamed collection of chapels and teachings
Archival Resource Key
undated
1
23
Women's Ministry: The Source notebook
Archival Resource Key
2002
1
24
The Source Discipleship Program
Archival Resource Key
2007-2008
1
25
The Source Discipleship Program
Paul Confronts the Galatians
Archival Resource Key
1975
2
1
News clippings
Archival Resource Key
1990-2009
2
2
Focus on the Family
Archival Resource Key
1999
2
3
A Changed Life, Carlson, Gerald
Archival Resource Key
2002
2
4
Family and Friends
Archival Resource Key
2005
2
5
Time
Archival Resource Key
2005
2
6
The Source
Archival Resource Key
2011
2
7
Ex'd Out: How I Fired the Shame Committee, Smid, John J.
Archival Resource Key
2012
2
8
Love in Action International, The Source Residential Program, (Garrard Conley's workbook and folder of loose material)
Archival Resource Key
1999-2013
13
Love in Action International,
The Source Residential Program, (Garrard Conley's workbook and folder of loose material)
Love in Action International, Love in Action Steps Out Program Class Manual
Archival Resource Key
undated
13
1
New Hope and Exodus International Ministries
Series 3
Archival Resource Key
1987-2001, undated
Scope and Contents
New Hope Ministries was founded by Frank and Anita Worthen. Frank was the founder of Love in Action as well as a founder of the Exodux program. All of these were conversion therapies. Their website carries the masthead, "Finding Freedom from Homosexuality," with the mission statement, "New Hope Ministry is a Christ-Centered ministry designed to help people struggling with homosexuality leave their past lifestyle and to fully embrace their true identify in Jesus Christ."
Website accessed 2018 July 17, http://www.akegreen.org/Links/L31/L31.html
Emotional Dependency, Rentzel, Lori
Archival Resource Key
1987-1990
2
9
Exodus Telephone Counseling Material
Archival Resource Key
1988
2
10
Song of Hope, Jernigan, Dennis
Archival Resource Key
1997
2
11
Exodus International North American Resource Booklets
Archival Resource Key
1998
2
12
Helping People Step out of Homosexuality
Archival Resource Key
1995
2
13
Establishing Group Meetings
Archival Resource Key
2001
2
14
Leadership
Archival Resource Key
2001
2
15
New Hope Ministries, booklets
Archival Resource Key
undated
2
16
New Hope Ministries, booklets
Archival Resource Key
undated
2
17
Publications
Series 4
Archival Resource Key
1983-2011, undated
Addiction Workbook
Archival Resource Key
undated
3
21
Abused Boys, Hunter, Mic
Archival Resource Key
1990
3
22
Breaking the Chains, Morlan, Jack
Archival Resource Key
2002
3
23
Can Homophobia be Cured?, Hilton, Bruce
Archival Resource Key
1992
3
24
Caring for Gay Loved Ones, Worthen, Frank and Anita
Archival Resource Key
2004
3
25
The Church and the Homosexual Issue, Worthen, Frank and Anita
Archival Resource Key
1995
3
26
Dark Obsession, Dailey, Timothy J.
Archival Resource Key
2003
4
1
Destiny Bridge, Worthen, Frank
Archival Resource Key
2010
4
2
Faithful and True, Laaser, Mark
Archival Resource Key
1992
4
3
Gay Rights or Wrongs, Mazzalongo, Michael
Archival Resource Key
1995
4
4
What God Says about Sex, Elder, Eric
Archival Resource Key
2006
4
5
God's Word Speaks to Homosexuality, Klein, Walter
Archival Resource Key
2007
4
6
Growth into Manhood, Medinger, Alan
Archival Resource Key
2000
4
7
The Healing Presence, Payne, Leanne
Archival Resource Key
1995
4
8
The Homosexual Agenda, Sears, Alan and Craig Osten
Archival Resource Key
2003
5
1
Homosexual No More, Consiglio, William
Archival Resource Key
1991
5
2
Homosexuality in the Church, Siker, Jeffreys
Archival Resource Key
1994
5
3
Homosexuality: A New Christian Ethic, Moberly, Elizabeth R.
Archival Resource Key
1983
5
4
How Sexual Orientation, Same-Sex Marriage, and Hate Crime Laws will Impact Society, Christianity, and the Church, Williams, Alton R.
Archival Resource Key
2009
5
5
It's Natural to be Gay, Brown, David E.
Archival Resource Key
1995
5
6
The Journal of Human Sexuality, Rekers, George A.
Archival Resource Key
1996
5
7
Love Won Out, Paulk, John and Anne
Archival Resource Key
1999
5
8
An Ounce of Prevention, Schmierer, Don
Archival Resource Key
1998
5
9
Out of Egypt, Howard, Jeanette
Archival Resource Key
1994
6
1
Pursuing Sexual Wholeness, Comiskey, Andrew
Archival Resource Key
1988
6
2
Questions I'm Asked Most About Homosexuality, Rogers, Sy
Archival Resource Key
2006
6
3
The Roots and Causes of Female Homosexuality, Focus on the Family
Archival Resource Key
2001
6
4
The Roots and Causes of Male Homosexuality, Focus on the Family
Archival Resource Key
2001
6
5
The Same Sex Controversy, White, James R. and Jeffrey D. Niell
Archival Resource Key
2002
6
6
The Secret Sin, Laaser, Mark R.
Archival Resource Key
1992
6
7
Sexual Healing, Foster, David
Archival Resource Key
1995
7
1
Sexual Identity, Yarhouse, Mark A. and Lori Burkett
Archival Resource Key
2003
7
2
Sexual Idolatry, Gallagher, Steve
Archival Resource Key
1986
7
3
Someone I Love is Gay, Worthen, Anita and Bob Davies
Archival Resource Key
1996
7
4
Soul Virgins, Rosenau, Doug and Michael Todd Wilson
Archival Resource Key
2006
7
5
Straight and Narrow?, Schmidt, Thomas E.
Archival Resource Key
1995
7
6
Striving for Gender Identity, Vonholdt, Christl R.
Archival Resource Key
2004
8
1
A Strong Delusion, Dallas, Joe
Archival Resource Key
1996
8
2
The Truth about Same-Sex Marriage, Lutzer, Erwin W.
Archival Resource Key
2004
8
3
Unwanted Harvest, Riley, Mona and Brad Sargent
Archival Resource Key
1995
8
4
When a Loved One Says, 'I'm Gay', Focus on the Family
Archival Resource Key
2002
8
5
You Don't Have to be Gay, Konrad, Jeff
Archival Resource Key
1992
8
6
Coming Out Straight, Cohen, Richard
Archival Resource Key
2000
9
1
Counseling and Homosexuality, Wilson, Earl D.
Archival Resource Key
1988
9
2
Healing Homosexuality, Nicolosi, Joseph
Archival Resource Key
1993
9
3
The Healing Presence, Payne, Leanne
Archival Resource Key
1989
9
4
Not Afraid to Change, Paulk, John
Archival Resource Key
1998
9
5
Restoring the Christian Soul Through Healing Prayer, Payne, Leanne
Archival Resource Key
1991
9
6
The Truth Comes Out, Heche, Nancy
Archival Resource Key
2006
9
7
Pacific Sun
Archival Resource Key
1994
12
1
Delivered: A Faith and Family Publication
Archival Resource Key
2010
12
2
Memphis Flyer
Archival Resource Key
1995-2012
12
3
News Clippings
Archival Resource Key
1990-2009
12
8
San Francisco Chronicle
Archival Resource Key
1990
12
9
Daily Campus
Archival Resource Key
1996
12
10
Christian Banner
Archival Resource Key
1998-2000
12
12
United Methodist Reporter
Archival Resource Key
1997
12
11
The Commercial Appeal
Archival Resource Key
1997-2011
12
13
Local News
Archival Resource Key
2008-2011
12
14
Audio-Visual
Series 5
Archival Resource Key
1988-2005, undated
People Are Talking
Archival Resource Key
1 Videocassettes (VHS)
1988-05-09
10
Larry King Show, Bay Area People
Archival Resource Key
1 Videocassettes (VHS)
1990-03-10-1990-03-19
10
CNN News: Love in Action
Archival Resource Key
1 Videocassettes (VHS)
1993
10
The John Ankerberg Show: Series on the Issue of Homosexuality
Archival Resource Key
1 Videocassettes (VHS)
1993
10
Trinity Interdenominational Church Presents: Closets and Doors
Archival Resource Key
1 Videocassettes (VHS)
1995-03-11
10
It's Not Gay
Archival Resource Key
1 Videocassettes (VHS)
2000
10
Sad to be Gay
Archival Resource Key
1 Videocassettes (VHS)
2005-08-09
10
Closets and Doors
Archival Resource Key
1 Videocassettes (VHS)
Undated
10
Praise the Lord
Archival Resource Key
1 Videocassettes (VHS)
Undated
10
Slide Show
Archival Resource Key
1 Cassette tape
1992
11
Testimony of Frank Worthen
Archival Resource Key
1 Cassette tape
1992-11-13
11
Hope Makes the Heart Grow, Smid, John
Archival Resource Key
1 Cassette tape
1993
11
Scope and Contents
Digital reference copy in the Smithsonian Institution Digital Asset Management System (DAMS). 1146.0T.000001 Side 1
Non-Sexual Relationships that Prevent Progress (men only), Smid, John
Archival Resource Key
1 Cassette tape
1994
11
Frank Worthen Summary
Archival Resource Key
1 Cassette tape
1994-10-03
11
Dancing Around the Pink Elephant: The Games Families Play, Smid, John
Archival Resource Key
1 Cassette tape
1999
11
Love in Action at Crossville First Baptist
Archival Resource Key
1 Cassette tape
1999-05-02
11
A Biblical Model for Recovery: A Study of 2 Peter Chapter 1, Smid, John
Archival Resource Key
1 Cassette tape
2002
11
Don't Say A Word: Same Sex Relations., Smid, John
Archival Resource Key
1 Cassette tape
2002-07-20
11
Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places
Archival Resource Key
1 Cassette tape
2003-08-13
11
Child Development #2
Archival Resource Key
1 Cassette tape
Undated
11
Sexual Wholeness Seminar: Healthy Friendships, Smid, John
Archival Resource Key
1 Cassette tape
Undated
11
Sexual Wholeness Seminar: Purity in Relationships: Where Does Our Model, Smid, John
Archival Resource Key
2 Cassette tapes
Undated
11
"One Nation Under God" (PBS Broadcast)
Archival Resource Key
1 Electronic discs (DVD)
1994
2
18
Scope and Contents
Funded by Corporation for Public Broadcasting; Film by Teodoro Mamcian - (Dr. Jerry Davison/Stony Brook Clip)
Love in Action (LIA) rally
Archival Resource Key
1988
2
19