Show 1 PhD Ph.D. speaks on sex same-sex attraction Jesse Dolce Dolc Contributing Writer The Health and Wellness Center of sponsored a seminar Honoring the Gay Voice Dr Lee Beckstead PhD Ph.D. a Licensed Psychologist spoke to students about his personal struggle with integrating spiritual sexual and social identities The seminar was to raise awareness for group therapy therapy therapy thera thera- py for sex same-sex attraction for individuals individuals individuals indi indi- in conflict The seminar came one week after a seminar held by Eagle Forum Collegians of entitled Silencing the Gay Voice Beckstead is a group facilitator that works for Aspen Grove Counseling He works with how individuals can resolve their distress distress distress dis dis- tress or concerns concerns about the their r sexual orientation n and religious and nd social conflicts Beckstead said that discussion discussion discussion dis dis- dis- dis allows people to sort out their thoughts and feelings enhance worth self-worth develop rela rela- consolidate a positive self-identity self and find comfort within within within with with- in their lives I dealt with sex same-sex attractions for years Beckstead said Beckstead grew up in Murray as a member of the church He told a story about himself of a time when he was a young man going to primary school and taking part in inthe inthe inthe the passing of the sacrament Atthe At Atthe Atthe the time he thought to himself that the boy passing the sacrament around was cute He dealt with the conflict of how the church felt about sex same-sex attraction and his faith by suppressing it He calls the sex same-sex attraction only a piece of his life He had a agay agay agay gay piece and a spiritual piece As a young man Beckstead went wenton on a mission and did everything within his faith to suppress the gay piece At 21 after returning home hone from a mission for the church he went to Evergreen International to help him deal with the gay piece Evergreen is a group that uses conversion therapy for people to overcome sex same-sex attraction They provide information and guidance guidance guidance guid guid- ance in order to overcome homosexual homosexual homosexual homo homo- sexual desires and reduce sex same-sex attraction Evergreen sustains the beliefs of the doctrines of the church but is not affiliated with the church From age 21 to 27 Beckstead tried to live the lifestyle that Evergreen outlined for him He found that the longer he suppressed his sex same-sex attraction the harder it became for him to have any type of sexuality He was not happy but felt like this was the only way for him to deal with the gay piece and his spiritual piece I was in a place where sissy boys could learn to play sports Beckstead said saidi At S were taught how to play sports like basketball Sex Same-Sex Cont on Page 4 Sex Same-Sex Cant if from front and baseball Women were taught how to apply up make-up and to cook My father wanted me meto meto meto to be gay said Linda Woodberry a student student student stu stu- stu- stu dent attending the semi semi- nar You cant can't make a person be gay I am not gay and I 1 dont don't think you youcan can make anyone be gay id Her father abused her as she was growing up He told her to become gay and not date boys because you cant can't get STD's from another girl Many people feel sui sui- sui- sui cide as their only option Beckstead said He warned that harm can occur from conversion conversion conversion conver conver- sion or reparative therapy therapy thera thera- therapy py due to being misinformed misinformed misinformed formed about realistic outcomes or being misled misled mis mis- misled led with unsubstantiated theories and treatments Students struggling with the process of sexual sexual sexual sex sex- ual reorientation can contact Health and Wellness Center in the Student Center at or visit Beckstead can be reached at Aspen Grove Counseling 1400 South Foothill Drive Suite 24 or call |