Former conversion therapy leader comes out as gay, ask for forgiveness

The founder of Hope for Wholeness, one of the most prominent conversion therapy groups in the United States, has admitted that he is gay. McKrae Game added that his program was built on “a lie” that is “very harmful” to those who had participated in it.

Combo of McKrae Game and a staircase painting in the colors of the rainbow in NYC to celebrate International LGBT Pride Day. [Photo: China Plus/ IC]

Game, the founder of the faith-based conversion therapy program, came out as gay in June, two years after being fired from the organization he founded.

Based in South Carolina, Hope for Wholeness attempts to use Jesus Christ to fix “the complicated issues of sexual and relational brokenness,” according to its website.

In an interview with The Post and Courier, Game said his organization had "harmed generations of people," and was predicated on “false advertising”.

He added he is attempting to right the wrongs of his two-decade association with the organization,

Admitting that he was a religious zealot who had hurt others, Game said: “People said they attempted suicide over me and the things I said to them. People, I know, are in therapy because of me. Why would I want that to continue?”

He recounted his experiences as a conversion therapy minister in a Facebook post published on August 25. He also apologized by saying "I WAS WRONG! Please forgive me!”

Screenshot of McKrae Game’s Facebook post

"I certainly regret where I caused harm. I know that creating the organization that still lives was in a large way causing harm," he continued. "People reportedly attempted suicide because of me and these teachings and ideals. I told people they were going to Hell if they didn’t stop, and these were professing Christians!"

“The memories aren’t all bad. There’re many good memories. But I certainly regret where I caused harm,” he wrote. “I know that creating the organization that still lives was in a large way causing harm. Creating a catchy slogan that put out a very misleading idea of ‘Freedom from homosexuality through Jesus Christ’ was definitely harmful.”

Game, now 51, is one of several former conversion therapy advocates who have come out as LGBTQ and condemned the practice of conversion therapy.

Over a dozen states have banned gay conversion therapy, which is aimed at changing a person’s sexual or gender identity. Such therapies have been denounced by major professional groups, including the American Medical Association and the American Psychological Association.

A map shows the states where conversion therapy laws prohibit licensed mental health practitioners from subjecting LGBT minors to harmful "conversion therapy" practices that attempt to change their sexual orientation or gender identity. [Photo: lgbtmap.org]

Conversion therapies on minors have been banned in the District of Columbia as well as 18 other states. South Carolina is not among them.