AfterElton.com has this about an ex-gay camp plot:
SPOILER ALERT
Luke’s birth father (don’t ask–it’s a long story) recently reappeared, and next week will try to send Luke to an ex-gay camp. Given how pro-gay the show has been, I suspect that ATWT will somehow make it clear how awful those places are, whether or not Luke actually goes to one. Best of all, the fan forums on ATWT have been full of righteous indignation that Luke might be sent to such a place. Viewers have really taken to Luke and want his mother to accept him as is.I read posts from teenagers, straight women, and mothers, all saying how ticked they would be if the writers actually did something so barbaric. AfterElton has written about the importance of soap operas to gay issues before, but I’ll say it again: These shows are watched by a lot of folks in the red states, and being exposed to Luke’s story is a great thing for them—and us.
If you watch the show, check it out and let us know how this plot is played out.
ALSO for those who watch BBC America’s Footballers Wives
Gay soccer (“football”) player Noah joined a church in the last episode to heal his homosexuality. Those on other continents who saw this plot theme several years ago before it came to the US will probably know what happens. Don’t tell us 🙂
You know…as difficult as it might be for a lot of people to watch, if As The World Turns showed the kid going through something like that it, and didn’t pull any punches about how emotionally brutal a place something like, say, based on the Refuge program at Love In Action is, it could be a powerful statement against sending teens to such places.
I was at the Love In Action protests last Monday, and listened as Lance Carroll give his statement to the press. Morgan Fox interviewed him after the protests were over for his documentary, and Lance gave him a much more detailed account of his time in LIA/R, and what happened to him afterwards. I was allowed to photograph the interview process and I heard what Lance told Morgan and it was just heartbreaking. If As The World Turns showed these places for what they really do to kids, it would be a powerful thing. It could really energize the fight against this kind of thing being done to teens.
Of course, the producers of the show would have to keep their nerve and not bow to pressure for “balance” from the religious right. They soft peddle it, or god help us even show it in even a slightly positive light, and it could be a disaster for gay teens all over the country.
I’m going to have to get a bigger Tivo 🙂
David Roberts
I don’t read soap gossip, but do watch ATWT. Luke’s story has been quite engrossing throughout its slow-paced evolution. It didn’t hit me until Thursday that “oh my god, [evil bio-dad] Damian wants to ship him off to an ex-gay camp!” — which has not yet been revealed explicitly on the show. Hearing the housewives’ thoughts on this is actually making me tear up.
If you can, check out ATWT. The show is doing a masterful job with this heart-tugging story (listen to Holden, Luke’s adoptive dad, and Lucinda, his grandmother, go on about how Luke is just fine as he is), and it even sacrificed a sweet character, Luke’s mom, Lily, by making her supremely unsympathetic (though, wisely, they have made it ambiguous – is she really a homophobe or is she hurt and angry because Luke didn’t trust her enough to share his discovery process with her?).
I hope Luke avoids a camp, but it would be interesting to see if ATWT was brave enough to depict the place and show the world – and the housewives – what really goes on behind the curtain of ex-gay ministries.
Kind of scary to think that they come to collect you. Tell you that they can make a success out of you. That you can’t just be in part of the program but must join to see the whole thing. All the while I am screaming RUN LUKEY RUN! It’s too bad that his dad convinced his mom. I hope their relationship can heal. Not a As the world turns fan more of a Passions. But I tuned in to see the action.
Frank,
You are assuming that the rest of us saw the episode. Since most of us have not, your comments need some clarifying.
Luke’s mom Lily sends over this Director/psychologist who she thinks can help straighten out Luke. This is after a discussion with Luke’s real father Damian. The director confronts Luke by telling him this program can make him a great success only in six weeks. Luke just needs to bring some shorts, shirts, and few socks. They shall provide the rest for him. The director claims that there is only one opening and to stay current with the rest of the group he must leave now. Luke can’t get the full effect of their service if he were to merely show up for a few events. Luke is told that his mother approves of him leaving but Luke wants to check with his other father. Much to dismay of the director who wants Luke to stop stalling. Now after a fight with Luke’s old pretend girlfriend. Lily finally decides to check in on this metamorphosis camp online. (in my opinion she sees that the place isn’t like the navy. lol) So she runs to save Luke from his fate. Only to be stopped by Damian.
For more summaries check out as the world turns https://www.cbs.com/daytime/atwt/
Thanks, Frank
If you wouldn’t mind, please keep us up to date.
Friday: Luke continues to struggle with Director Kruegar. Luke tells Kruegar that he is gay. The director acts like that is a suprise to him that Luke’s biggest problem is that he is gay. He is asked if he wants to meet a person who went through the process and now is a counselor. Kruegar only claims that their going to camp. It is revealed that since Luke is a minor, his mother gave permission that Director has control of him. Luke finally goes upstairs to collect his things. Only to call his other dad to come home. During a fight with Damien, Lily finally understands the way she has been acting with Luke. She races home to find Kruegar waiting for Luke. She throws the director out and talks to Luke on the top of the stairs. He confronts his mother about trying to change him. He doesn’t want to go talk fearing that she is going to throw him in the van. Which she doesn’t, just wants to talk. However after a quarrel Luke throws her down the stairs. Lily goes tumbling down. Next week’s preview has her fighting for her life with Luke by her side.
Luke didn’t *throw* his mother down the stairs. He was *terrified* that he was going to be abducted and sent to deprogramming camp against his will. He had every reason to feel that way. His mother came up the stairs toward him, trying to explain that she’d send the Creepy Camp Guy away, but Luke, having been blindsided by the whole thing, didn’t believe her, and was afraid she was lying to get him out to the van. He pushed her away from him, and she fell. I really don’t see Luke as being at fault.
And for those who don’t watch, the guy from the camp really was portrayed as very, very creepy.