881: Elena Joy Thurston, Zach Meiners, and Dustin Rayburn: The Untold Truths of Conversion Therapy

Shameless Leadership

Today’s episode showcases three guests currently featured in the new documentary, Conversion. This critical documentary exposes the deep trauma conversion therapy causes our LGBTQIA+ community members. Often conversion therapy is veiled as something far different from what it is. This interview and the movie expose the insidiousness and prevalence of conversion therapy in our communities today. I am so honored to have been given the opportunity to interview Elena Joy Thurston, Zach Meiners, and Dustin Rayburn to talk about their incredible movie.

Elena Joy Thurston, she/her, is the CEO of LATITUDE, a boutique HR consultancy that specializes in creating psychological safety on corporate teams. Her viral TEDx talk on surviving conversion therapy, with over 45,000 views, propelled her exposure, resulting in media spots on ABC, CBS, and FOX.

Zach Meiners, he/him, is the founder, President, and Creative Director of Chronicle Cinema, a full service media production company, where he has produced national ad campaigns, corporate events, and award-winning entertainment.

Dustin Rayburn, they/them, is a performer and activist best known by their stage name, Dusty Ray Bottoms. Dusty gained notoriety on season 10 of the Emmy Award Winning TV Show RuPaul's Drag Race.

Listen in to hear Elena Joy, Zach, and Dustin share:

• What conversion therapy is
• Their personal experiences with conversion therapy
• What conversion therapy looks like and the insidiousness of covert conversion therapy
• The retraumatization of realizing you went through conversation therapy without even knowing that’s what it was
• How being part of the creation of this documentary has been healing for each of them
• How conversion therapy changes the brain in a way that doesn’t allow for closure in healing - meaning the healing is ongoing and forever
• What parents should know about conversion therapy as it relates to their kids and the other kids in our respective communities
• How to show allyship through your commitment to learning about LGBTQIA+ issues

Links mentioned:

• Preorder Conversion: https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/conversion/umc.cmc.75rmpixysv3qoksxyus5zq9rr
• Watch the Conversion Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=U50wbO3MfANkAxdQ&v=oyLEJtQ6MTI&feature=youtu.be
• More info on the Conversion doc: https://www.conversionmovie.com/
• Elena Joy on SMA Episode 595: Living Out Loud After Enduring Life Threatening Conversion Therapy
• Conversion movie on IG
• Elena Joy on IG
• Dustin on IG
• Zach on IG

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