Zach in Memphis Update: State of Tennessee Terminates Investigation

For some background, or to see my previous posts which touch on the blog storm that has erupted over Zach - the 16-year-old gay blogger who has spent the last few weeks imprisoned in a brainwashing camp meant to 'cure' him of his gayness - go here.

It should come as no surprise that the state of Tennessee "determined that the child abuse allegations were unfounded." Child abuse happens right under the nose of the Tennessee Dept. of Children's Services all the time. You get what you pay for, and in this state - which refuses to implement an income tax - what you get is a chronically dysfunctional state government.

I'd like to know if the person or persons who conducted this alleged investigation is/are as biased against gays as is this state government. I'd also like to know exactly what qualifications or credentials are held by said investigators.

It's worth noting that when the investigation was first announced, State officials made an issue out of the fact that the Love in Action brainwashing camp is not licensed by the State. State officials suggested that the facility should be licensed.

Yet nothing is said about the absence of a license now that the investigation has been halted.

Why is that?

From the Associated Press:

(Memphis, Tennessee) The state of Tennessee said Monday it has found no evidence to support child abuse allegations against a Christian group that tries to "convert" gay teens to heterosexuality.

The group, Love In Action International, says it believes that instilling strong Christian beliefs can keep gays from acting on their homosexual desires. The group, which also works with adults, has a program called Refuge for teens 15 to 18 years old.

The state Department of Children's Services said last week that it was looking into a report of child abuse at the Refuge program. (story) The program drew protests earlier this month from homosexual advocacy groups.

"DCS dispatched its special investigations unit to the facility, and after conducting a full investigation, determined that the child abuse allegations were unfounded," said Rob Johnson, an agency spokesman.

John Smid, executive director of Love in Action, said the allegations were never described to him but he assumed they involved a complaint of psychological abuse.

The program, Smid said, "is to help kids to grow in their relationship with Christ." "We understand people don't have control over what they feel, but we teach them they are able to control what they do," Smid said. "We don't have to act on those desires, even if we feel them." The group's work has been the focus of protest by gay advocacy groups, who say it is dangerous and irresponsible to engage in so-called ex-gay therapy.

Earlier this month, a Web logger going by the name of "Zach" said his parents were sending him to a religious organization that would try to convert him to heterosexuality.

The teen identified himself as a 16-year-old from Bartlett, Tenn., and said his parents "tell me that there is something psychologically wrong with me. ... I'm a big screwup to them, who isn't on the path God wants me to be on. So I'm sitting here in tears ... and I can't help it."

The Department of Children's Services did not say whether it found "Zach" or if it determined he ever existed.

Love In Action is one of several so-called ex-gay organizations throughout the country.

The American Psychiatric Association and the American Psychological Association both have said such therapy can be emotionally harmful, leading to depression and self-destructive behavior.

The Republic of T. also has the story.