“Boy Erased: A Memoir of Identity, Faith and Family”
Garrard Conley
Riverhead Books, 2017, 352 Pages

At A Glance: “Boy Erased” is a memoir recounting his traumatic experience with conversion therapy and his journey towards embracing his identity as a gay man amidst the challenges of reconciling this with his faith and family in a conservative community.

Overview: “Boy Erased: A Memoir of Identity, Faith, and Family” by Garrard Conley is a compelling narrative of his struggle with his sexual identity as a young man in a religious community in Arkansas. Conley details his traumatic experience with conversion therapy, a harmful practice he was subjected to after being outed to his conservative parents.

This deeply moving memoir showcases Conley’s journey of self-discovery, resilience, and courage as he ultimately rejects the damaging ideology of conversion therapy and embraces his true identity as a gay man. The book powerfully highlights the challenges and emotional turmoil he faced, juxtaposing the oppressive environment of the therapy against his journey towards self-acceptance, love, and an honest life, aligning with his faith and values.

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