LGBT conversion in anti-gay Hungary | VPRO Documentary
122All his life Tim has wondered whether he was born gay or became one. Although it is by no means a popular question to ask, developments in society have recently made it more pressing than ever before. Secondary school students are increasingly growing up with the idea that sexual preference and gender are fluid.
But the dissenting voices, from people who see this as 'rainbow propaganda' and 'lhbti-lobby', are also getting louder. In From the Other Side, Tim explores whether you can influence someone's sexual orientation and sharpens his views on his own sexuality.
A growing group of people in Europe, especially in EU countries like Hungary and Poland, see LGBTQIA+ not as a catch-all term for people with different sexual preferences, but as an ideology that is propagated and threatens traditional family life. From right-wing conservatives who distrust the media to young orthodox Christians, they argue that homosexuality is not innate, but learned or the result of trauma.
At a secret location in Hungary, Tim attends an international conference where scientists, therapists and so-called "ex-gays" meet. They are proponents of conversion therapy: therapy that helps you put aside your homosexual feelings. 'Same-sex lust is only a symptom, it's not who you are,' one of the participants tells Tim. 'Homosexuality is a choice, an action.
At a high school in the Netherlands, he sees just how fluid and free the young generation is when it comes to gender and sexual orientation. In both cases the question is: can you influence someone's sexual preference? 'There is such a thing as sexual fluidity,' says an Irish man who gives therapy to people who want to become 'ex-gay'. Now it may seem impossible that you will ever fall madly in love with a woman," he tells Tim, "but for your own mental health it would be good not to close that door. At the school, Tim finds a climate in which he is encouraged to discover his sexual identity, even if it is anything but heterosexual. As he gains more and more insight into the contrasting worlds of thought, Tim also sharpens his vision of his own sexuality.
March, 2022
Directed by Katinka de Maar
VPRO Documentary publishes a new subtitled documentary weekly, investigating current affairs, finance, sustainability, climate change or politics. Subscribe to our channel, and we will be delighted to share our adventures with you!
This Channel is part of VPRO broadcast. Make sure to visit our additional youtube channels:
VPRO Metropolis: https://www.youtube.com/user/VPROmetropolis
VPRO World Stories: https://www.youtube.com/VPROworldstories (no longer active)
VPRO Extra: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTLrhK07g6LP-JtT0VVE56A
VPRO VG (world music): https://www.youtube.com/vrijegeluiden
VPRO 3voor12 (alternative music): https://www.youtube.com/3voor12
VPRO 3voor12 extra (music stories): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtgVYRLGraeL9rGMiM3rBHA
More info at https://www.VPRObroadcast.com